Why Reflecting & Paraphrasing Is Effective

• Helps the client feel understood

• Increases validation

• Strengthens the therapeutic alliance

• You and the client are on the same page (versus assuming)

• Helps with facilitating more content from the client

• Helps with facilitating the process in therapy

• And more

Sample Phrases & Statements To Paraphrase & Reflect

• I heard you say…

• What you’re saying is…

• Correct me if I’m wrong, you said…

• Please let me know if I’m understanding you, it sounds like…

• What I’m hearing is X, is that right?

• You said…

• You’re (describe behavior/action)

• It sounds like…

• It seems like…

• You can preface with

  • I would imagine

  • I'm guessing

  • I wonder if

Tips

• This is a core foundation of therapy that all therapists should be well versed in before adding in more complex interventions and techniques

• Don’t sound like a robot and repeat these phrases verbatim

• Use these phrases as needed and based on context and timing

• Find your own style and incorporate these phrases into your own way of practicing and doing therapy

Practical Exercise

• Simply listen to a client (practice active listening) and wait for them to finish talking. Do not interrupt. Notice your urges to interrupt or talk. What happens inside of you? What do you say to yourself? What do you want to do behaviorally?

• Once they finish talking, reply with a paraphrasing or reflecting statement or question encapsulating what they said and wait to see what happens next.