Which clinical skill is the act of showing the client that you are listening through nonverbal cues and verbal signals?

• A. Summarizing
• B. Probing
• C. Empathy
• D. Attending

Answer: (D)

Attending is about signaling you’re truly present and listening through both body language and voice. When you sit or stand facing the client with an open posture, maintain appropriate eye contact, nod, and offer facial expressions that reflect interest, you show you’re engaged. Verbal cues like brief encouragements—“mm-hmm,” “I see,” or “go on”—and a calm, attentive tone reinforce that you’re listening. This simple, active presence invites the client to continue sharing and builds trust.

This differs from summarizing, which restates what was said to confirm understanding; probing, which asks questions to explore details; and empathy, which focuses on recognizing and validating the client’s feelings. Attending lays the foundation for effective communication by making the client feel heard before other skills come into play.