In motivational interviewing, which set of core skills is represented by OARS?

In motivational interviewing, which set of core skills is represented by OARS?

• A. Open-ended questions, validations, reflective listening, and summarizing
• B. Open-ended questions, affirmations, reflective listening, and summarizing only
• C. Open-ended questions, affirmations, directive listening, and summarizing
• D. Open-ended questions, affirmations, reflective listening, and summarizing

Answer: (D)

In motivational interviewing, OARS represents four core skills: Open-ended questions invite clients to explore their thoughts and ambivalence in their own words; Affirmations recognize strengths, efforts, and past successes to build confidence and rapport; Reflective listening shows empathy, helps clarify what the client is saying, and often deepens the conversation about change; and Summarizing brings together what’s been discussed, reinforcing motivation and highlighting change talk or plans. This combination is the standard representation of OARS and supports engagement, evocation of change, and planning. Other options alter one or more components (for example, using a term like directive listening or replacing affirmations with validations), which is why this set is the best fit.

In motivational interviewing, OARS represents four core skills: Open-ended questions invite clients to explore their thoughts and ambivalence in their own words; Affirmations recognize strengths, efforts, and past successes to build confidence and rapport; Reflective listening shows empathy, helps clarify what the client is saying, and often deepens the conversation about change; and Summarizing brings together what’s been discussed, reinforcing motivation and highlighting change talk or plans. This combination is the standard representation of OARS and supports engagement, evocation of change, and planning. Other options alter one or more components (for example, using a term like directive listening or replacing affirmations with validations), which is why this set is the best fit.