“Demanding” clients are often making legitimate requests. Therapists applying such a label should consider whether it is the client’’s requests or the service’’s lack of resources which is unrealistic.

Therapists often assure clients that the information they provide is confidential. Confidential is defined as “intended to be kept secret”. Whether the information will be kept as secret as the client (or therapist) imagines depends upon the therapist and the service.

Clients’ perceptions of rapport may be enhanced by silences. Therapists who are uncomfortable with silence should remind themselves that their client’s interpretation of the silence may be much more positive.

Some terms used by therapists to describe clients have meanings which won’t be found in textbooks. Use of these terms is rarely of benefit to the client, although the term may say as much about the therapist as the client.

Use of a client’s name to foster engagement may mask flagging concentration and inattention. Using a client’s name sparingly permits more accurate judgement of attention to the conversation or task.

Uninvited use of a client’’s given name can impede rapport in a number of ways. Moving from a position of formality to informality and intimacy is easier than backtracking.