OARS stands for?

• A. Online Assessment Response System
• B. Objective Analysis Reasoning Skills
• C. Open Access Resource Suite
• D. Open-ended questions, Affirmations, Reflective listening, and Summaries

Answer: (D)

OARS is a mnemonic used in motivational interviewing to describe four core interaction strategies that support client autonomy and elicit change talk. Open-ended questions invite detailed responses and help clients articulate their values, goals, and ambivalence rather than giving yes/no answers. Affirmations recognize strengths and efforts, reinforcing confidence and motivation. Reflective listening involves restating or paraphrasing what the client has said to show understanding and encourage deeper exploration. Summaries pull together the client’s statements, reinforce motivation, and smoothly transition toward planning next steps. The other options point to terms that aren’t part of this counseling framework, so they aren’t correct.