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.

A counselor should strive to ensure that his/or her nonverbal communication does not send out incorrect messages that the client will respond to negatively. Physical proximity is an area that counselors especially need to ensure is utilized in the most effective manner for the client's emotional needs. During treatment, a counselor should never speak with a client from across a desk or some other barrier. Also, the counselor's and client's chairs should be three to five feet apart.

The counselor should take into account the culture of the client, as this will greatly influence what nonverbal communications the client is most comfortable with. An example of this is looking a client straight in the eye, which is appreciated in American culture, yet in some other cultures, such as the Native American culture, it is viewed as an invasion of privacy. African Americans will take direct eye contact in an even more serious way, possibly thinking that it is a manifestation of hostility.