ABSTRACT
The focus within this chapter is on developing the relationship, problem identification and assessment. Additional core skills, which can be used to develop communication and build upon the earlier skills, are the presence and communication of the core conditions, paraphrasing, summarising, identifying and reflecting feelings content and meaning, and asking questions. Summarising is gathering together the content, themes and feelings of what the client has presented to you. As helpers, it is useful to keep the helpful phrases 'up your sleeve', and while it could sound contrived or even patronising to start every sentence the same way, it is good to get familiar with using the effective phrases as part of people's counselling skills language. The skill of paraphrasing is listening to the meaning of what your client has just said and rephrasing it, showing your understanding of what he or she has just said back to him or her, using their own words.
