Exceptions Technique

            When using the exceptions technique, counselors must listen for any exceptions to complaints that are unrecognized by the client. Clients may not realize something positive that is taking place in their life because they are preoccupied with negative occurrences, so it is the counselor’s role to point out the positive aspects that are not being acknowledged. Once an exception has been noticed by the counselor, he/she can ask direct questions pertaining to it and ask the client to elaborate on what had occurred up until that point. Along with acknowledging the exception, the counselor should also encourage the client to speak about what takes place when this exception is occurring. This points out the positive behavior, which has gone unnoticed, to the client. This may sound like a basic technique, but the key is staying in tune with every detail that the client is reporting, because there is a good chance that they have overlooked some of the details that will help lead to a solution.