Paraphrasing in counseling is best described as:

Paraphrasing in counseling is a skill that involves restating what the client has expressed using the counselor's own words. This technique serves several important purposes in the therapeutic process. First, it demonstrates active listening, as it reflects the counselor's engagement with the client’s thoughts and feelings. By rephrasing the client's statements, the counselor helps ensure that they accurately understand the client’s message, which can promote deeper exploration of the issues at hand.

Additionally, paraphrasing can clarify and summarize complex emotions or thoughts shared by the client, making it easier for them to process their experiences. This technique fosters rapport and encourages the client to elaborate on their feelings or thoughts, leading to richer discussions and insights.

In contrast, ignoring a client's statements would hinder communication and the development of trust, asking closed-ended questions typically limits the client’s responses and doesn't encourage exploration, and providing lengthy explanations can overwhelm clients rather than facilitate understanding. Hence, restating the client's statements in the counselor's words is a fundamental aspect of effective counseling communication.