What technique can help clients feel more comfortable in the helping setting?

Using icebreakers is an effective technique to help clients feel more comfortable in a helping setting. Icebreakers serve to lower tension and create a relaxed atmosphere, making it easier for clients to open up and engage in conversation. They can be simple activities or questions that encourage sharing in a low-pressure way, facilitating a connection between the client and the helper.

While building rapport is also essential, it generally takes a longer time to develop and is a broader process that includes establishing trust, understanding, and a positive relationship over multiple interactions. Conducting assessments, on the other hand, is a more formal process aimed at gathering information about the client's needs and challenges, which may feel intimidating rather than comforting. Providing feedback is important in the helping process, but it usually occurs after a level of comfort has already been established. Therefore, using icebreakers directly addresses the immediate concern of making clients feel at ease in the initial stages of interaction.