Open questions are known to help clients feel more 'in charge' of their own stories.

• A. True
• B. False
• C. Not enough information
• D. It depends

Answer: (A)

Open questions invite clients to share their experiences in their own words, which signals curiosity, partnership, and respect for their perspective. When a clinician uses open-ended prompts like “What was that experience like for you?” or “How did that affect your sense of yourself this week?” the client has space to shape the narrative, identify what matters most, and define meaning and direction. That sense of co-creation and autonomous storytelling helps clients feel more in charge of their own stories, which is linked to greater engagement, empowerment, and readiness to explore change. Closed questions, by contrast, tend to yield brief or yes/no answers and can steer the conversation or limit what the client chooses to disclose, diminishing their sense of ownership. Not enough information or depends would ignore the consistent therapeutic effect that open questions have across counseling approaches, while true aligns with how empowering, client-centered practice is designed to operate.