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

A counselor can employ assigning tasks and contracting when responding to a client's message. This response will encourage the client to implement the things that he/or she has been learning in life outside of counseling sessions. However, the counselor should not assign the task until the client has practiced and rehearsed in counseling. An effective means of doing this is through a written contract or a spoken contract that can be either formal or informal. The contract may be formal and include goals that are very specific, with details as to where, when, and how often visualization or muscle relaxation exercises will be performed by the client during tense or stressful situations that previously caused the client to relapse or use alcohol or drugs. On the other hand, the contracts could be very non-specific and informal, with general guidelines for the client to block thoughts or ideas that pertain to drinking alcohol or using drugs.