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.

Counterproductive patterns of communication are barriers that prevent effective communication with clients, and they contain these sub-categories:

1. Inappropriate use of questions
2. Inappropriate or excessive interruption
3. Dominating interaction
4. Fostering social interaction with a client
5. Passive responding
6. Parroting and overuse of phrases or cliches
7. Dwelling on the remote past
8. Inappropriate use of self-disclosure

It is highly recommended that the counselor try to avoid discussing social conversation topics (i.e. the weather, sports, politics, hobbies, or any other activities that the client and the counselor have in common). An exception to this rule is at the beginning of counseling when the session is just being introduced and the client and counselor are just becoming acquainted. The reason that these social discussions should be kept at a minimum is that they take the focus from the client and make it difficult to stay on topic.