Open questions are designed to elicit which type of response?

• A. Yes/No answers
• B. Brief summaries
• C. Single-word responses
• D. Detailed, exploratory responses

Answer: (D)

Open questions invite clients to share more than a yes or no. They require reflection, narrative, and exploration, which leads to detailed, exploratory responses. In counseling, these questions typically start with words like how, what, tell me about, or in what ways, and they avoid seeking a simple binary answer. By encouraging clients to describe experiences, feelings, thoughts, and contexts, open questions help build a fuller understanding of what’s going on and support collaborative problem-solving.

For example, instead of asking, “Are you feeling better?” you might ask, “What has helped you cope this week, and how has that affected how you’re feeling?” That kind of prompt invites the client to elaborate, connect different aspects of their experience, and share nuances that a single word or short phrase wouldn’t capture.

In contrast, closed questions tend to limit responses to a yes or no, or a single word, which can constrain what the counselor learns. Brief summaries may occur when someone is asked to recap, but they don’t necessarily elicit ongoing exploration. So open questions are best for encouraging comprehensive, exploratory dialogue.