When a counselor relates one person's predicament to another person's predicament, it is known as

• A. Linking
• B. Summarization
• C. Clarification
• D. Blocking

Answer: (A)

Relating one person's predicament to another's is linking. In group counseling, linking is about drawing connections between members’ experiences to reveal shared patterns, themes, or feelings. By showing how two different situations echo each other, the facilitator helps members recognize they are not alone, enhances empathy, and prompts deeper reflection on underlying dynamics like needs, fears, or coping styles. This technique can move discussion from isolated stories to a broader understanding of common struggles, which often invites new perspectives and potential solutions.

For example, if one member describes a struggle with setting boundaries at work and another shares a similar challenge at home, the facilitator might highlight the parallel and explore what those boundary difficulties reveal about control, self-care, and communication. That’s different from summarizing, which restates what one person said, or clarification, which seeks to make a statement more precise. Blocking would interrupt discussion or shut down sharing. Linking centers on cross-person resonance to foster insight and group cohesion.