Final answer:
OARS stands for Open-ended questions, Affirmations, Reflective listening, and Summarizing. It is a technique used in motivational interviewing, a counseling approach often used to help individuals cope with ambivalence and make positive changes in their lives.
Step-by-step explanation:
OARS stands for Open-ended questions, Affirmations, Reflective listening, and Summarizing. It is a technique used in motivational interviewing, a counseling approach often used to help individuals cope with ambivalence and make positive changes in their lives. Let's break down each component:
- Open-ended questions: These are questions that cannot be answered with a simple 'yes' or 'no' and encourage the person to provide more detailed answers. They are useful for exploring thoughts, feelings, and behaviors.
- Affirmations: Affirmations involve acknowledging and highlighting the person's strengths, efforts, and achievements. They are meant to build rapport and enhance motivation.
- Reflective listening: Reflective listening is a skill where the counselor listens carefully to the person, then paraphrases or summarizes what they heard to ensure understanding. It shows empathy and lets the person know you are actively engaged.
- Summarizing: Summarizing involves condensing and restating the person's main points, highlighting progress or identified goals. It helps to reinforce important information and ensure accuracy in understanding.