Which action is used to summarize sessions in motivational interviewing's OARS skills?

• A. Open-ended questions
• B. Summarizing
• C. Reflective listening
• D. Affirmations

Answer: (B)

The main concept here is using a summarizing action to wrap up a session in Motivational Interviewing. In MI, the OARS skills include summarizing, which is the concise synthesis of what the client has said—pulling together themes, change talk, and any plans or next steps. This helps both reinforce motivation and ensure mutual understanding, often providing a clear finish to the session and clarifying what will come next. The summary ties together prior and current statements, checks accuracy, and can spark further client reflection or agreement. Open-ended questions are for eliciting more information, reflective listening is about reflecting back meanings and feelings, and affirmations acknowledge strengths; none function as the wrap-up synthesis the way a summary does.