The counselor's request to 'tell me specifically what has made life so bad' demonstrates which technique?

• A. Concreteness
• B. Concreteness
• C. Directive
• D. Reflection

Answer: (B)

The main idea is turning broad statements into specific, concrete details. When the counselor says “tell me specifically what has made life so bad,” the goal is to elicit concrete details—exact events, situations, people, or moments—that have contributed to the client’s distress. This moves the conversation from vague feelings to tangible examples, which helps both the client and counselor identify patterns, triggers, and areas to address in treatment. It clarifies what exactly is hurting and when it happens, so you can talk about concrete steps to feel better.

This differs from reflection, which focuses on empathically restating or validating the client’s feelings rather than pushing for specific events or facts. It also isn’t primarily about directing the client to take a particular action; rather, it’s about eliciting precise information to sharpen understanding and problem-solving.