Which of the following is a key task of Motivational Interviewing?

Open-ended questions are a fundamental task in Motivational Interviewing, a client-centered counseling style aimed at enhancing motivation to change. These questions allow individuals to express their thoughts, feelings, and experiences in greater depth, fostering an open dialogue and encouraging them to explore their motivations and ambivalence about change.

This approach is essential, as it shifts the focus from the facilitator providing information or solutions to the individual articulating their own reasons for change. By using open-ended questions, the facilitator encourages self-reflection and personal insight, which are critical for meaningful engagement and effective behavioral change.

In contrast, close-ended questions typically elicit brief responses and restrict the individual's ability to elaborate, which is not conducive to the goals of Motivational Interviewing. Personal opinions from the facilitator can create biases that might inhibit someone's self-exploration, while acknowledgment, though valuable in the broader context of communication, does not specifically encompass the task of guiding a motivational dialogue. Therefore, open-ended questions stand out as a key component in the Motivational Interviewing framework.