Various techniques for responding to the client can be used not only in the initial building of a relationship with the client, but throughout the entire counselor/client relationship. Commonly used responses by counselors include:

1. Attending
2. Paraphrasing
3. Reflecting
4. Clarifying
5. Leading
6. Summarizing
7. Supporting
8. Approving
9. Confronting
10. Informing
11. Interpreting
12. Assigning tasks and contracting
13. Instructing

Paraphrasing is one method that a counselor can use to respond to a client. With this response, the counselor will take a statement that the client has made and restate it in more condensed terms and in different words. An example of this is the client saying, "My husband's death caused my entire life to fall apart. So I began drinking a lot to cope with all the decisions that where placed on me. My husband used to make all the decisions. Now I need a job to support my children, and I'm in too bad of a condition to get one." A good response for the counselor would be to restate the client's words by saying something like "After your husband died, you had all the responsibilities and decisions placed on you."

When paraphrasing a client's message, the counselor should not include any emotional aspects that the client mentioned in his/or her statement. The objectives of a paraphrase are to allow the client to see that the counselor comprehends his/or her message, as well as to guide the client into delving deeper and staying focused on a particular topic.