Which component of the OARS technique provides an overview of what a client has discussed?

The component of the OARS technique that provides an overview of what a client has discussed is summarizing. Summarizing serves to encapsulate and reiterate the key points or themes that have been shared during the conversation. This allows the client to hear their thoughts and feelings reflected back to them in a concise manner, helping to reinforce what they have expressed and ensuring clarity in understanding.

In therapeutic settings, a summary can also serve as a bridge to the next topics of discussion, facilitating the flow of dialogue and aiding in the client's reflection on their own insights. It is a crucial skill in the counseling process, as it not only demonstrates that the counselor is actively listening but also affirms the client's experiences, which can be empowering for the client.

While open-ended questions encourage clients to explore their thoughts more deeply, reflective listening involves restating what the client has said to demonstrate understanding but does not provide an overarching view of the discussion. Affirmations serve to recognize and commend a client’s strengths and efforts, but they do not summarize the content of the conversation. Thus, summarizing is the only component that effectively condenses the dialogue into a cohesive overview.