Disengagement Traps
You focus on a particular problem, and you call it (or the client) by a name.
Labeling Trap
#11
Questioning or Probing
Adding little or nothing to what a client has said by basically repeating or slightly rephrasing their content.
Simple Reflection
Accentuating the positive.
Affirming
This trap involves enabling a client's defensiveness about fault.
Blaming Trap
#7
Agreeing, approving or praising
Applying low intensity terms to client statements.
Undershooting
A series of statements that pull together what a client has told you.
Summarizing
The basic problem is focusing before engaging and trying to solve the problem before you have established a working collaboration and negotiated common goals.
Premature Focus Trap
#4
Persuading with logic, arguing or lecturing
Applying high-intensity terms to client statements.
Overshooting
An invite for the client to think about their response and provide a broad answer.
Open Questions
In this trap, the counselor controls the session by asking questions, while the client merely responds with short answers.
Assessment Trap
#6
Disagreeing, judging, criticizing, or blaming
Adding meaning or emphasis to what a client says by making a guess of what is coming next.
Complex Reflection
Clinician statements that allow clients to consider and explore their own story.
Reflections
This trap communicates "I'm in control here." and sets up an implicit expectation that once you have collected enough information you will have the answer.
Expert Trap
#12
Withdrawing, distracting, humoring, or changing the subject
Focusing and reinforcing client statements selectively.
Directing