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.

Counterproductive patterns of communication are barriers that prevent effective communication with clients, and they contain these sub-categories:

1. Inappropriate use of questions
2. Inappropriate or excessive interruption
3. Dominating interaction
4. Fostering social interaction with a client
5. Passive responding
6. Parroting and overuse of phrases or cliches
7. Dwelling on the remote past
8. Inappropriate use of self-disclosure

None of these responses are inherently wrong for the counselor to use, however, their repeated use will impede the relationship building between the client and the counselor by estranging the client from the counselor and hindering the objectives of the treatment.

Inappropriate or excessive disruptions are responses that should not be overused. A client may become irritated if the counselor interrupts frequently, and interrupting may also oppress the expressions of the client or inhibit close examination of the client's problems. At times it may be beneficial to the client for the counselor to break in at appropriate times to keep the discussion on topic. However, if the counselor is not purposeful in his/or her implementation of the interruption, then it will be detrimental to the counseling process. Above all, the counselor should strive to avoid frustrating the client.