Reflecting And Communicating Feelings

The client is trying to reach his goal, but his attempts have failed and he feels frustrated.

It is often helpful to put yourself in the person's situation. You would probably feel humiliated if someone laughed at you.

The client's statement suggests a strong positive emotion.

The first part of his statement indicated loneliness. The second part indicates that he believes no one cares whether he lives or dies-an indication of depression.

"I want to help" suggest concern

Ans. A (is a good response, because you ignored the content or cognitive aspects of what was said and reflected her feelings about what she said.

Ans. B : Pay attention to nonverbals. By noting her posture and tone of voice you accurately identify the client's feelings.

The correct answer is "You're really proud that you have managed by yourself." The client mentioned that she is managing by herself without her husband's help, indicating that she is proud of her ability to handle things independently. This response acknowledges and validates her feelings of pride in her own accomplishments.

Response C. reflects the feeling as well as the emotion she is displaying.

The correct answer is "You seem anxious about what it is you want to discuss with me." This response reflects the feeling of the client accurately, acknowledging their anxiety and showing empathy. It also encourages the client to open up and continue talking about their concerns.

Client is showing his anxiety by his nonverbal behavior while telling you that he is glad to see you.

This is an accurate reflection of feeling in which you identify the affect associated with the client's comments.

The client's statement indicates that she has mixed feelings about her estranged husband providing child support. On one hand, she hopes that he will provide financial support, but on the other hand, she expresses anxiety because she is unsure if he will actually follow through. The chosen response accurately reflects this mixed emotional state by acknowledging both her hope for support and her anxiety about the uncertainty of her husband's actions.

You've indicated that you understand how the client feels now that he has shared this private information with you.

By implication the client has stated that he hates all counselors including you. With this response you are asking him to explore his feelings with you. It is important that the client understand his feelings with you before he goes on to discuss any other matters.
The client is also addressing a then and there topic (past experience) by your first response you allowing him to be very present with that emotion by expressing his feelings with you.

Response B, is a clear and concise summary to help the client identify and cope with her feelings.

The client is smiling while telling you of a situation he resents. By reflecting his verbal and nonverbal communication you are asking him to clarify for both of you what he is feeling.

It is always appropriate to reflect feelings even when they are directed towards you. Reflection of feelings help to develop the relationship.

Ans. C detracts from the statement the client has made. And denies the client the right to express his or her feelings.

Ans. B This response shows that you've focused on only part of what the client says. By stating he, "should do something" shows that he has some desire to alter his situation.

Ans. C This response is an overstatement of the emotion expressed by the client. He stated he has no money, or skills, and that he doesn't know what to do. However, he has not indicated that he is frightened about his situation.

In the given statement, "I can't stand those long lines in the bank," the speaker is expressing a negative emotion about waiting in long lines at the bank. The phrase "can't stand" indicates a strong dislike or irritation, which is typically associated with frustration.

The speaker's statement "I'm fed up with my father he is always telling me what to do?" suggests a feeling of frustration and annoyance towards their father's constant instructions. The use of the phrase "fed up" indicates a sense of being overwhelmed or irritated.

The speaker expresses a positive outlook on the future and anticipates it with excitement. This indicates that they have a hopeful and optimistic attitude towards what lies ahead in their life.

The speaker expresses enthusiasm and anticipation for something, indicating that they are excited or eager about it.

When reflecting feelings, it is important to pay attention to the emotional aspect of what the client is saying. This includes observing their behavior, such as their posture, voice tone, rate of delivery, and other mannerisms. It is also crucial to use a diverse range of words to accurately label the client's emotions and to identify the full spectrum of their emotional experience.

When reflecting feelings, it is important to use an appropriate introductory phrase to acknowledge the client's emotions. The summary should be clear and concise, capturing the range of feelings the client seems to be experiencing. It is not necessary to repeat the client's exact words, but instead, focus on the current feelings using the present tense. Using a wide range of introductory phrases helps to vary the reflection and make it more effective in conveying understanding and empathy.

Reflection of feelings is a technique that helps clients become aware of their emotions and accept and explore them. By reflecting the client's feelings back to them, it demonstrates understanding and empathy, showing that the therapist understands how the client is experiencing the world. This technique also helps in building a strong therapeutic relationship between the therapist and the client, creating a safe and supportive environment for the client to explore their feelings.

If you sense that there is a block in your communication with your client always address it. Suggestion on how to bring this up. I sense a distant between us, is there something I might have said or done that is may have caused this?

Cultural Considerations: It is important that you take culture in mind. In some culture restrains of feelings is valued, and as a result little or no response to the reflection of feelings is given.
Direct eye contact is avoided in some cultures. Be cautious when interpreting lack of eye contact.

There is evidence that facial expressions of emotions are not culturally bound. However, the client determines how and when facial expressions of emotions occur.