A clinician who employs active listening is doing which of the following?

• A. Responding to both the content and the affect of the client's remarks
• B. Directing the client to specific answers to questions
• C. Listening very carefully and taking extensive notes
• D. Conducting a clinician-directed interview

Answer: (A)

Active listening means engaging with more than just the words—the clinician attends to both what is being said (content) and how the client feels (affect). By reflecting or clarifying both aspects, the clinician shows understanding, validates emotions, and helps the client feel heard, which strengthens the therapeutic relationship and encourages deeper sharing. This is why responding to both content and affect is the best description of active listening. The other behaviors describe more directive or passive approaches that don’t capture the core of active listening: directing answers, mere note-taking without responsive feedback, or a clinician-led interview that doesn’t center the client’s experience.