Throughout the book, the authors focus on the basic skills that facilitate communications in therapy (empathy, respect, authenticity, relating in the here--and--now, and confrontation) and explore specific methods of using them. These skills----which research shows are crucial to effective therapy----enable therapists and counselors to Empathize in a caring way with the feelings of clients Become receptive to clients in a warm, respectful, and nonjudgmental way Constructively share feelings with clients in a natural, open manner Therapeutically utilize moment--to--moment, here--and--now interaction Make clients aware of their inconsistencies and discrepancies without arousing antagonism or defensiveness