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

Attending is where the counselor needs to listen closely to the client while sitting forward slightly in a relaxed manner and making eye contact with the client. Reflecting responses involve restating the affective section of the client's message. With reflection, the counselor's goal is to restate the client's words with emotional awareness so that the client will see that the counselor understands his/or her feelings, causing the client to be more open and emotionally expressive to the counselor. It is shown that reflection allows anger on the client's part to diminish.