Financial Counseling Certification Program (FiCEP) Practice Exam

Using a hard approach, rather than a soft approach, with members:

1. Can create tension and resistance

2. Encourages open dialogue

3. Is often more effective in crisis

4. Promotes empathy and understanding

The correct answer is: Can create tension and resistance

The choice highlighting that using a hard approach can create tension and resistance is accurate because a hard approach often involves being directive, confrontational, or overly critical. This manner of interaction can lead to defensiveness in members, fostering an atmosphere of conflict rather than collaboration. When members feel they are being pressured or challenged aggressively, it can result in pushback, disengagement, or an unwillingness to share their thoughts and feelings. In contrast, a soft approach tends to foster a more supportive environment where dialogue can flourish, understanding is deepened, and empathy is cultivated. The goal in many counseling or supportive environments is to build rapport and mutual understanding, which is often compromised by a hard approach. While there may be situations—like crises—where a more directive approach could have its place, typically the emphasis is on fostering cooperative engagement rather than eliciting resistance. Thus, the correct choice effectively highlights the potential downsides of a hard approach in financial counseling contexts.