a client who recently moved to a new country told their coach they are struggling...

ICF Competency 7 ("Evokes Awareness") involves "asking questions and providing observations that help the client gain insight and explore new perspectives." This competency prioritizes deepening the client’s self-understanding over offering solutions or validation. Let’s evaluate:

A. Ask what the client believes is at the root of this struggle: This powerful question evokes awareness by prompting self-reflection and insight, directly aligning with Competency 7 and the ICF focus on client autonomy (ICF Code of Ethics, Section 1).

B. Acknowledge that making friends is difficult and can take time: While supportive (Competency 5), this doesn’t challenge or deepen awareness, limiting its impact.

C. Suggest concrete steps the client could take to make friends: This shifts to action planning (Competency 8), not evoking awareness, and risks being directive (ICF Code of Ethics, Section 2.3).

D. Say the challenges are likely caused by cultural difference: This imposes the coach’s assumption, reducing client exploration and contradicting Competency 7’s focus on client-driven insight.

Option A best evokes awareness, per ICF’s competency framework.