Which of the following is NOT identified as a beneficial active listening technique for a Peer Support Specialist?

• A. Reflective listening
• B. Open-ended questions
• C. Summarizing
• D. Directly advising the client

Answer: (D)

Active listening in peer support centers on helping the client feel understood and heard, guiding them to explore their own thoughts and choices rather than solving their problems for them. Reflective listening mirrors back what the client says and, importantly, their feelings, which validates their experience. Open-ended questions invite deeper sharing and help the client articulate needs and goals. Summarizing brings together the main points the client has expressed, confirming understanding and progress.

Directly advising the client, on the other hand, shifts the dynamic from listening to telling, which can dismiss the client’s own process, reduce their sense of autonomy, and may feel imposing. In peer support, we stay collaborative and empowering, offering options or resources only after the client has expressed readiness and as part of a supportive conversation rather than as a default response. That’s why directly advising is not identified as a beneficial active listening technique.