ATI Mental Health: Therapeutic Communication Techniques Practice
Pack 2026/2027 |Questions |Answers |Rationales
1. A nurse is talking with a client who is frustrated because their family has not
visited. The nurse states, ‘You feel angry that your family has not come to see
you?’ Which technique is the nurse using?
A. Reflecting
B. Restating
C. Focusing
D. Exploring
Answer: A
Rationale: Reflecting directs the client’s feelings and questions back to the client so that
they may be recognized and accepted.
2. A client says, ‘I can’t take this anymore. My life is a mess.’ The nurse
responds, ‘Tell me more about what is going on in your life.’ This is an example
of which technique?
A. Broad opening
B. Exploring
C. Giving recognition
D. Summarizing
Answer: B
Rationale: Exploring is a technique that encourages the client to delve deeper into a
subject, idea, experience, or relationship.
,3. A nurse sits down with a client who is newly admitted to the psychiatric unit
and says, ‘I will sit here with you for 15 minutes.’ Which therapeutic technique
is this?
A. Offering self
B. Providing general leads
C. Accepting
D. Making observations
Answer: A
Rationale: Offering self makes the nurse available to the client on an unconditional basis,
increasing the client’s feeling of self-worth.
4. A client tells the nurse, ‘The FBI is listening to my phone calls.’ The nurse
responds, ‘I understand that you believe that is true, but I find it hard to
believe.’ Which technique is used?
A. Presenting reality
B. Belittling
C. Defending
D. Voicing doubt
Answer: D
Rationale: Voicing doubt expresses uncertainty as to the reality of the client’s perceptions,
often used with clients experiencing delusional thinking.
5. Which of the following responses by the nurse is an example of a ‘broad
opening’ statement?
A. ‘I notice you’re wearing a new shirt.’
B. ‘Is there something you’d like to talk about?’
C. ‘Yes, I see. Go on.’
D. ‘Are you feeling better today?’
Answer: B
, Rationale: Broad openings allow the client to take the initiative in introducing the topic
and emphasize the importance of the client’s role in the interaction.
6. A nurse says to a client, ‘You seem tense today.’ This is an example of:
A. Making observations
B. Giving information
C. Restating
D. Formulating a plan
Answer: A
Rationale: Making observations involves verbalizing what is perceived, which encourages
the client to recognize specific behaviors and compare perceptions.
7. A client asks the nurse, ‘Do you think I should leave my spouse?’ The nurse
responds, ‘What do you think would be the best for you?’ This is an example of:
A. Giving advice
B. Focusing
C. Exploring
D. Reflecting
Answer: D
Rationale: The nurse reflects the question back to the client to encourage independent
decision-making rather than giving advice.
8. The nurse states, ‘I’m not sure I follow you. Could you explain that again?’
This is an example of:
A. Seeking clarification
B. Verbalizing the implied
C. Giving recognition
D. Placing the event in time
Answer: A
Pack 2026/2027 |Questions |Answers |Rationales
1. A nurse is talking with a client who is frustrated because their family has not
visited. The nurse states, ‘You feel angry that your family has not come to see
you?’ Which technique is the nurse using?
A. Reflecting
B. Restating
C. Focusing
D. Exploring
Answer: A
Rationale: Reflecting directs the client’s feelings and questions back to the client so that
they may be recognized and accepted.
2. A client says, ‘I can’t take this anymore. My life is a mess.’ The nurse
responds, ‘Tell me more about what is going on in your life.’ This is an example
of which technique?
A. Broad opening
B. Exploring
C. Giving recognition
D. Summarizing
Answer: B
Rationale: Exploring is a technique that encourages the client to delve deeper into a
subject, idea, experience, or relationship.
,3. A nurse sits down with a client who is newly admitted to the psychiatric unit
and says, ‘I will sit here with you for 15 minutes.’ Which therapeutic technique
is this?
A. Offering self
B. Providing general leads
C. Accepting
D. Making observations
Answer: A
Rationale: Offering self makes the nurse available to the client on an unconditional basis,
increasing the client’s feeling of self-worth.
4. A client tells the nurse, ‘The FBI is listening to my phone calls.’ The nurse
responds, ‘I understand that you believe that is true, but I find it hard to
believe.’ Which technique is used?
A. Presenting reality
B. Belittling
C. Defending
D. Voicing doubt
Answer: D
Rationale: Voicing doubt expresses uncertainty as to the reality of the client’s perceptions,
often used with clients experiencing delusional thinking.
5. Which of the following responses by the nurse is an example of a ‘broad
opening’ statement?
A. ‘I notice you’re wearing a new shirt.’
B. ‘Is there something you’d like to talk about?’
C. ‘Yes, I see. Go on.’
D. ‘Are you feeling better today?’
Answer: B
, Rationale: Broad openings allow the client to take the initiative in introducing the topic
and emphasize the importance of the client’s role in the interaction.
6. A nurse says to a client, ‘You seem tense today.’ This is an example of:
A. Making observations
B. Giving information
C. Restating
D. Formulating a plan
Answer: A
Rationale: Making observations involves verbalizing what is perceived, which encourages
the client to recognize specific behaviors and compare perceptions.
7. A client asks the nurse, ‘Do you think I should leave my spouse?’ The nurse
responds, ‘What do you think would be the best for you?’ This is an example of:
A. Giving advice
B. Focusing
C. Exploring
D. Reflecting
Answer: D
Rationale: The nurse reflects the question back to the client to encourage independent
decision-making rather than giving advice.
8. The nurse states, ‘I’m not sure I follow you. Could you explain that again?’
This is an example of:
A. Seeking clarification
B. Verbalizing the implied
C. Giving recognition
D. Placing the event in time
Answer: A
