Which statement is NOT true about reframing?

• A. It helps clients see alternative perspectives
• B. It reframes the meaning of situations
• C. It can reduce defensiveness
• D. It is often used by psychoanalysts to uncover unconscious conflicts

Answer: (D)

Reframing is a technique that helps clients shift the meaning of a situation or belief, so they can see it from a different, more adaptive angle. By offering new interpretations, it expands what the client considers possible and can reveal strengths or alternatives that weren’t obvious before. Because the reframe changes how a situation is understood rather than judging it, it tends to reduce defensiveness and invites engagement rather than resistance. In practice, therapists use reframing within CBT, narrative, or solution-focused approaches to challenge distorted thinking and support new coping strategies.

The statement that reframing is often used by psychoanalysts to uncover unconscious conflicts isn’t accurate. Psychoanalytic work concentrates on uncovering unconscious material through methods like free association, dream analysis, and examining defenses and transference. Reframing targets conscious interpretations and meaning-making to promote change. An example is reframing a setback as a learning opportunity, which can help a client move forward rather than getting stuck in fault or shame.