When trying to communicate with clients, oftentimes there are barriers that prevent effective communication. Nonverbal barriers include facial expressions, posture, voice, and physical proximity to the client, while verbal barriers include inherently destructive verbal responses and counterproductive patterns of communication.

Inherently destructive verbal responses can be divided into eight sub-categories:

1. Moralizing and sermonizing
2. Premature advice or solution giving
3. Persuading, judging, or criticizing
4. Inappropriate interpretation
5. Sympathizing, consoling, and excusing
6. Sarcasm
7. Inappropriate humor
8. Threatening or warning

Sympathizing, consoling, and excusing are inherently destructive verbal responses that should always be avoided by the counselor. When a counselor gives the client a consoling, sympathizing, or excusing statement, then he/or she is only looking for quick and temporary relief to the client's long-term problems. This will make the client begin to doubt the credibility of the counselor and not consider the counselor's advice seriously anymore. Using these types of statements may also encourage the client to continue to behave badly.

Sympathizing, consoling, or excusing statements will be glib or dishonest statements of sympathy that do not accurately or thoroughly explore the anger, misery, or defenseless feelings that the client is experiencing. An example of an insincere statement from a counselor to a client is "things will work out in the end". Well-timed, sincere, and comforting statements, on the other hand, will provide the client with hope and support.