Which two questions are recommended to prompt thinking about needs and wants?

• A. What do you want? and What do you need right now?
• B. When will you do it again? and Who watches?
• C. Why did you do this? and What punishment will you accept?
• D. Who is to blame? and When is the next time?

Answer: (A)

The key idea here is guiding clients to distinguish what is essential (needs) from what they desire (wants) and to connect those insights to concrete next steps. Asking “What do you want?” invites the client to articulate goals, values, and aspirations. Following with “What do you need right now?” grounds those aspirations in present reality, focusing on essential requirements and feasible actions. This pairing helps prioritize and plan, making it easier to discern immediate necessities (safety, shelter, basics) from optional desires, and to map out practical steps to address them.

The other options miss this focus. They steer the conversation toward past actions, punishment, blame, or who is watching, which don’t directly cultivate thinking about needs versus wants or translate that distinction into actionable planning.