Overshooting in counseling occurs when the counselor reflects a feeling that is

Overshooting in counseling occurs when the counselor reflects a feeling that is

• A. More intense than the client's
• B. Less intense than the client's
• C. The same as the client's
• D. Irrelevant to the client's emotion

Answer: (A)

Overshooting occurs when the counselor’s reflection exaggerates the client’s emotion. The counselor should mirror what the client feels at an equal or congruent level, not amplify it with a stronger affect. When the counselor reflects a feeling that’s more intense than the client’s, it shifts the focus to the counselor’s own experience and can disrupt trust and the client’s sense of being understood. For example, if a client feels sad about a loss, a helpful reflection would acknowledge that sadness at a similar level; reacting with anger or overwhelming intensity would overshoot. Reflecting less intense feelings would be under-responding, reflecting the same intensity would be accurate, and reflecting an emotion irrelevant to the client would misattend.

Overshooting occurs when the counselor’s reflection exaggerates the client’s emotion. The counselor should mirror what the client feels at an equal or congruent level, not amplify it with a stronger affect. When the counselor reflects a feeling that’s more intense than the client’s, it shifts the focus to the counselor’s own experience and can disrupt trust and the client’s sense of being understood. For example, if a client feels sad about a loss, a helpful reflection would acknowledge that sadness at a similar level; reacting with anger or overwhelming intensity would overshoot. Reflecting less intense feelings would be under-responding, reflecting the same intensity would be accurate, and reflecting an emotion irrelevant to the client would misattend.