Which principle emphasizes ensuring goals are what the client wants rather than what they feel they should do?

Which principle emphasizes ensuring goals are what the client wants rather than what they feel they should do?

• A. Align Goals With Client Desires
• B. Emphasize External Expectations
• C. Prioritize Clinician-Directed Targets
• D. Apply One-Size-Fits-All Goals

Answer: (A)

The main concept here is goal setting that centers on what the client truly wants, not what they feel they should do. When goals come from the client’s own desires, motivation is more autonomous and lasting because it aligns with their values, preferences, and daily life. This makes the goals feel personally meaningful, increasing engagement and the likelihood of follow-through. This is why aligning goals with client desires is the best choice: it honors the client's voice and agency, boosting relevance and commitment, which supports sustainable change. Choosing external expectations shifts the focus to what others think, which can reduce intrinsic motivation and lead to resistance. Clinician-directed targets take away ownership from the client, often overlooking readiness and personal context. One-size-fits-all goals ignore individual differences, making goals less meaningful and harder to maintain.

The main concept here is goal setting that centers on what the client truly wants, not what they feel they should do. When goals come from the client’s own desires, motivation is more autonomous and lasting because it aligns with their values, preferences, and daily life. This makes the goals feel personally meaningful, increasing engagement and the likelihood of follow-through.

This is why aligning goals with client desires is the best choice: it honors the client's voice and agency, boosting relevance and commitment, which supports sustainable change.

Choosing external expectations shifts the focus to what others think, which can reduce intrinsic motivation and lead to resistance. Clinician-directed targets take away ownership from the client, often overlooking readiness and personal context. One-size-fits-all goals ignore individual differences, making goals less meaningful and harder to maintain.