Considerations When Responding to Questions and Requests In Client-Centered Therapy

There are a number of considerations that the client-centered therapist needs to take into account in the process of answering questions or responding to requests in a manner that respects the client and follows the client's lead. Some of these considerations are listed below in the form of questions the therapist may address to her/himself.

1. Do I understand the question or request? Do I need to ask the client a question for clarification, or make a statement summarizing what I understand in order to be sure I accurately understand the question or request?
2. Do I feel my commitment to protect the client's autonomy, self-regulation and self-direction as I attempt to address the client's question or request? Do 1, at the same time, recognize the client's right to have his/her questions and requests addressed directly, to not be interpreted or avoided?
3. Do I feel at ease with the question or request? Am I comfortable enough with it to address the question or request without being distracted or defensive? Do I need to postpone a response to think about it further, or to regain my congruence (wholeness, integration, authenticity)?
4. Do I have the information, the competencies or the personal circumstances that are necessary to answer the question or to accommodate the requests?
5. Am I continuing to maintain my empathic and acceptant attitudes and respond with acceptant empathy throughout the interaction concerning the client's question or request.
6. Am I maintaining my ethical standards throughout the interaction?
7. Do I feel free to not give the client the answer being asked for, or feel free to not participate in the client's request? If I do not wish to answer or participate, am I able to explain myself to my client undefensively and honestly, and without implying blame or criticism of my client?
8. Are my values and my therapeutic attitudes (congruence, unconditional positive regard, and empathic understanding) firmly in place, within me, with this client? Can my values and my therapeutic attitudes influence each moment of the process of interacting with the client about his/her questions or requests? Am I authentic as I respond? Am I accepting and nonjudgemental? Am I remaining open and responsive to the client and his/her internal frame of reference? Am I free of directive intentions and goals for the client as I respond to the question or request?
9. Am I truly being responsive to the client from the client's point of view? Do I need to ask the client, from time to time, if my responses from my own frame of reference are appropriate and relevant to the client's wishes. Am I adjusting myself and what I say to the client as I receive information from the client about his/her wishes, feelings and reactions?
10. Am I prepared, in the sense of remaining open to empathic understanding of the client, for surprising or unexpected reactions from the client concerning the way I have interacted with him/her in the questions and requests situation? Am I confident I can adequately respond to surprising or unexpected client reactions? Am I prepared in the sense of feeling I am able to respond while maintaining the therapeutic attitudes and with other appropriate responses to surprising or unexpected consequences of my answers or my accommodations to the client?