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

Premature advice or solution giving often results from the counselor's feeling that he/or she needs to give the client a fast answer or solution to a problem or question. Instead of doing this, however, counselors should comprehensively examine the client's situation to discover all the factors and details. Otherwise, clients may feel that the counselor does not sufficiently comprehend their situation. Clients may also feel as though they do not know the counselor well enough to take advice from him/or her. An example of premature advice is the counselor saying "You should break up with your boyfriend, and try dating and forming relationships with other men." This type of premature advice or solution giving will frequently cause the client to react in the opposite manner by being resistant to the change or acting in a rebellious manner.