Core Conditions in Therapeutic Relationship - Practice Worksheet
1. Empathy (showing understanding of the client’s feelings)
1. “It seems like you’ve been carrying a heavy load and it feels exhausting.”
2. “I can sense the frustration in your words—it makes sense after everything you’ve been
dealing with.”
3. “So part of you wants to speak up, but another part is afraid of how others might react?”
2. Unconditional Positive Regard (accepting the client without judgment)
4. “You’re welcome to share anything here without fear of being judged.”
5. “It’s completely okay to feel disappointed—it’s part of being human.”
6. “You don’t have to prove anything to be accepted in this space.”
3. Congruence (Genuineness/Authenticity)
7. “I notice I feel concerned hearing this, which shows me how deeply it matters.”
8. “To be honest, I don’t fully understand yet—can you explain it a bit more?”
9. “I value your openness—it makes this conversation feel very real.”
4. Warmth (showing care, kindness, acceptance)
10. “Thank you for trusting me with that—it really shows courage.”
11. “I can see how tough this has been for you, and I’m here alongside you.”
12. “You don’t have to face this by yourself—I’ll support you as we talk it through.”
5. Concreteness (clarifying, avoiding vagueness)
13. “When you say you’re upset—do you mean angry, sad, worried, or something else?”
14. “Can you describe what happened step by step?”
15. “When you said they ignored you, what exactly did they do?”
16. “Can we look at one specific example—maybe the last time this occurred?”
17. “When you mention things got harder, what specifically became harder?”
18. “You said you feel pressure—what are the main sources of that pressure right now?”
6. Immediacy (bringing attention to the here-and-now relationship)
19. “I notice you hesitated just now—what’s going on for you in this moment?”
20. “As we talk, I sense a little distance between us. Do you feel that too?”
21. “You laughed just now while mentioning something painful—can we pause and explore
that together?”
Practice Section
Empathy
Client: “I feel like I’m stuck and can’t move forward.”
Counselor (empathy): ________________________________________
Client: “Everything feels so overwhelming right now.”
Counselor (empathy): ________________________________________
Unconditional Positive Regard
Client: “I don’t think I’m worth listening to.”
Counselor (UPR): ________________________________________
Client: “People usually push me away.”
Counselor (UPR): ________________________________________
Congruence
Client: “Do you really care what I’m saying?”
Counselor (genuineness): ________________________________________
Client: “I’m not sure you actually understand me.”
Counselor (genuineness): ________________________________________
Warmth
Client: “I feel invisible to everyone.”
Counselor (warmth): ________________________________________
Client: “I’m nervous to share this with you.”
Counselor (warmth): ________________________________________
Immediacy
Client: (avoids eye contact, fidgets)
Counselor (immediacy): ________________________________________
Client: “I feel uncomfortable right now talking to you.”
Counselor (immediacy): ________________________________________