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

When communicating with clients, sarcasm should always be avoided. If a counselor is sarcastic towards his/or her client, then that client is likely to retaliate and behave hostilely towards the counselor. An example of a sarcastic statement is the counselor saying to the client "If you don't be careful, your face will freeze that way."

When a counselor uses inappropriate humor with a client, then he/or she is using an inherently destructive verbal response. Inappropriate uses of humor will keep the treatment session at a superficial level and will not allow the client to truly go deep and open up vulnerably to the counselor. An example of an excessive or inappropriate statement is "Did you wake up on the wrong side of your bed this morning?" This statement is distracting and should be avoided.