A nurse responds to a client's tearful statement by saying, 'It sounds like you're feeling overwhelmed by everything that's happened.' This technique is called:

REFLECTION is a therapeutic communication technique in which the nurse communicates back the FEELING or CONTENT of what the client has expressed, demonstrating understanding and inviting the client to explore further. Two types: CONTENT REFLECTION — paraphrasing the facts or content ('So you're saying you've been having trouble sleeping for the past two weeks?'); FEELING REFLECTION (empathic reflection) — reflecting the emotional component ('It sounds like you're feeling overwhelmed by everything that's happened'). This is what the nurse in the scenario is doing.

Key features: uses the client's own emotional language or closely related words; often begins with 'It sounds like...,' 'It seems like...,' 'What I'm hearing is...'; doesn't add interpretation beyond what the client expressed; doesn't advise, judge, or redirect.

Why it is therapeutic: (1) Validates the client's experience — they feel heard; (2) Encourages elaboration — the client continues sharing; (3) Demonstrates empathy without pity; (4) Helps the client clarify their own feelings; (5) Strengthens the therapeutic relationship.

Contrast with similar techniques: PARAPHRASING — restating content in different words (mostly content, not feeling-focused); SUMMARIZING — pulling together multiple themes at the end of a conversation; CLARIFICATION — asking for more information when unclear; QUESTIONING — directly asking for information; INTERPRETATION — going beyond what the client said to infer meaning (higher inference, should be used cautiously). NON-THERAPEUTIC contrast: ADVICE-GIVING ('You should...') — removes autonomy; FALSE REASSURANCE ('Don't worry') — invalidates feelings; CLOSED QUESTION ('Are you feeling overwhelmed?') — limits response to yes/no, less exploratory.