Which one of the following counselling skills involves, paraphrasing client's words and saying what counsellor think about client's feeling?

Appeared in: ESIC Nursing Officer-7July 2024

Explanation

Reflecting is a therapeutic communication technique where the counsellor rephrases the client's statements (paraphrasing) and explicitly names the underlying emotion they perceive.
This process validates the client's feelings, shows that the counsellor is actively listening and understanding, and helps the client gain a clearer perspective on their own emotions.
The question's description of 'paraphrasing client's words and saying what counsellor think about client's feeling' is the exact definition of reflecting.
According to counselling principles, reflection is a form of paraphrasing that is specifically limited to the client's feelings, demonstrating empathy.

Option A: Concreting focuses on moving from vague statements to specific facts and examples, not on interpreting or stating feelings.
Option C: Summarizing involves condensing a larger amount of information or an entire session's key points. It is broader than reflecting a single statement and its associated feeling.
Option D: Listening is the foundational skill of paying attention and receiving information. It does not include the specific action of verbalizing the client's perceived feelings back to them.

Visual 1: Flowchart: A diagram showing the process of reflective listening: 1. Client speaks → 2. Counsellor listens for content and feeling → 3. Counsellor formulates a reflective statement → 4. Counsellor says 'It sounds like you feel [emotion] because of [content]' → 5. Client confirms or corrects.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Therapeutic Communication Techniques in Counselling as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Reflecting is crucial for building a strong therapeutic alliance, as it makes the client feel heard and understood, which is the foundation of trust.
In high-stress nursing situations, such as breaking bad news or dealing with a patient's grief, reflecting feelings can help de-escalate emotions and facilitate coping.
What if? If a counsellor only paraphrases the words (content) but ignores the feeling, the client might feel intellectually understood but emotionally disconnected. This is simple paraphrasing, not the more therapeutic skill of reflection, and can hinder progress.

How to Approach the Question

First, break down the question's definition: it has two distinct parts - 'paraphrasing client's words' and 'saying what counsellor think about client's feeling'.
Next, evaluate each option against this two-part definition.
Eliminate 'Listening' as it's a general skill of receiving information, not giving specific feedback on feelings.
Eliminate 'Summarizing' as it deals with a larger chunk of conversation, not a specific, immediate statement.
Differentiate between 'Concreting' (which seeks facts) and 'Reflecting' (which addresses feelings). The question clearly points to feelings.
Select the option that uniquely combines both paraphrasing content and verbalizing the associated emotion.

Concept Tested & Keywords

Concept Tested: Therapeutic Communication Techniques in Counselling
Stem keywords: counselling skills, paraphrasing, client's words, client's feeling
Lead-in keywords: Which one
Negative lead-in flag: false

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Practise the full ESIC Nursing Officer-7July 2024

Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.