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

Clarifying is a response method used by counselors to define vague or perplexing words that the client uses in conversations. Some messages that may need to be clarified are made up of inclusive terms (e.g. the words "they" or "them"), ambiguous phrases (e.g. phrases like "you know"), or words that have more than one connotation (e.g. the words "stoned" or "trip"). An example of this is the client making the statement "I simply want to get away from it all sometimes." An appropriate clarifying response from the counselor should be "Describe to me, if you can, what you mean by getting away from it all." A counselor can use clarifying as a response any time he/or she feels that the message is unclear and wishes to extend his/or her comprehension of it more thoroughly. Another use for clarifying is to allow clients to better understand what they mean when they make certain statements.