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.

Inherently destructive verbal responses can be divided into eight sub-categories:

1. Moralizing and sermonizing
2. Premature advice or solution giving
3. Persuading, judging, or criticizing
4. Inappropriate interpretation
5. Sympathizing, consoling, and excusing
6. Sarcasm
7. Inappropriate humor
8. Threatening or warning

Moralizing and sermonizing are where the counselor uses "should" or "ought" messages in order to give the client advice. For example, a counselor may preach to his/or her client that "You are too young to get married, and you ought to wait." A client's response to this will most likely be either defensive outwardly or inwardly.