Simple and Complex Reflections

Simple Reflections

Complex Reflections

Stay close to the speakers words

Make a guess

• Paraphrase

• Repitition

• Rephrase

• Continue the paragraph

• Reflect feeling

• Use an analogy

• Overstatement and Understatement

• Double-sided reflection

Double-sided Reflection

Reflects both sides of the client’s ambivalence, but make sure to end the reflection on the piece you want the client to continue talking about.

Repitition

Repeats what the client has said by adding little or no emphasis on what the client said.

Continue the Paragraph

Reflects the client's statement and/or adds something that was not directly said in order to continue the conversation towards change talk.

Overstatement and Understatement

Reflects what the client has said in an exaggerated way. This is meant to encourage the client to correct or argue against what was said in order to evoke change talk.

Paraphrase

Restates what the client has said by making an inference.

Use an Analogy

Makes a statement that provides some clarity or a new way of understanding what the client just said or is feeling.

Reflect Feeling

Infers what the patient is feeling and reflects the emotion back to them.

Rephrase

Slightly alters what the client has said, while still keeping the meaning to the client's statement.