Which of the following correctly lists the three goals of the Basic Listening Sequence?

• A. Obtain an overall summary and understanding; identify key facts; identify core emotions
• B. Build rapport; assess risk; plan discharge
• C. Diagnose; treat; refer
• D. Collect consent; schedule follow-up; document

Answer: (A)

The Basic Listening Sequence is about first getting the client’s big picture, then pulling out the important details, and finally tuning into what they’re feeling beneath their words. The three goals are: obtain an overall summary and understanding of what’s happening, identify key facts that are essential for understanding the situation, and identify core emotions that drive the client’s experience. This combination helps you grasp the situation accurately from both a factual and an emotional standpoint, which guides what you do next.

Other options focus on tasks outside of this listening framework. Building rapport and assessing risk are important in early sessions, but they aren’t the specific three aims of the listening sequence. Discharging, diagnosing, treating, and referring involve clinical decision-making or care planning, not the initial listening structure. Administrative steps like collecting consent, scheduling follow-ups, and documentation are procedural tasks that come after establishing how the client is experiencing things.