The care giver must ask questions that will elicit helpful answers in establishing the goals of treatment. Good listening skills do not only refer to asking the correct questions. The care giver should also display an attitude of attentive listening while the client is speaking. He or she should do this by letting client finish what he or she is saying before speaking again, and by asking for clarification or verification where these are necessary. The client will then experience a sense that his or her problems and concerns are important to the therapist and that appropriate help will be offered.

Another influencing factor is the ability to establish good are giving goals. This should be done in collaboration with the client, based upon the initial conversation where the client's challenges were discussed. When this connection between the initial conversation and treatment goals is made, the client is made to...
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