Client response modes and session outcome in counseling interviews

This study examined client response modes in 27 one-session counseling interviews with volunteer student clients. The sessions that yielded better outcomes were associated with low proportions of client recounting, which involves clients providing statements on factual information in a storytelling style, and high proportions, of client response modes, which indicate an exploration of feelings, thoughts and behaviors, insight into problems, and a problem-solving attitude. Thereafter, client response modes were examined in conjunction with counselor interventions in the previous speaking turn using a sequential analysis. This analysis revealed that the occurrences of client response modes were not random but rather influenced by the antecedent counselor interventions.