In Humanistic Therapy practice of Engaged Curiosity, which aspects might the therapist inquire about?

• A. What the client likes/does not like, how they move forward, or what is held back in communications with relationships.
• B. Only the client's employment status.
• C. The therapist's preferences.
• D. Only past traumas.

Answer: (A)

Engaged curiosity in humanistic therapy centers on inviting the client to explore their own experience, values, and choices in a collaborative, nonjudgmental way. The therapist uses open-ended questions and empathic reflection to learn what the client genuinely likes or dislikes, what helps them move forward, and what holds them back in how they communicate within relationships. This approach honors the client’s lived meaning, supports self-direction, and facilitates growth through authentic self-exploration.

Asking about preferences—likes and dislikes—helps reveal what matters to the person and what motivates them. Inquiring how they move forward taps into their agency and potential paths for change, rather than imposing steps from the outside. Probing what blocks communication in relationships sheds light on interpersonal dynamics and how the client experiences connection, which are central to building healthier patterns.

Choosing to focus solely on employment status or only on past traumas narrows the inquiry and shifts away from the client’s present experience and growth. The therapist’s own preferences aren’t the target; the emphasis remains on the client’s world as the client experiences it.