A counselor who repeats what a client has stated in the counselor's own words is using what technique?

• A. Paraphrasing
• B. Reflecting
• C. Interpreting
• D. Summarizing

Answer: (A)

Paraphrasing is restating what the client has expressed in the counselor’s own words to check accuracy and show understanding. It helps verify you’ve heard the message correctly and clarifies meaning without adding new interpretation. For example, if the client says, “I'm overwhelmed at work and I’m afraid I’ll mess up,” you might reply, “You’re feeling overwhelmed by your workload and anxious about making mistakes.” That restatement keeps the same idea but in new wording, which helps the client hear it again and correct any misreadings. This differs from reflecting, which includes the emotional tone and feelings behind the words; paraphrasing focuses on the content itself. It also differs from summarizing, which would condense longer statements, and from interpreting, which adds meaning not explicitly stated by the client.