Which of the following is NOT considered a basic communication skill in counseling?

In counseling, basic communication skills are essential for establishing a therapeutic relationship and facilitating effective dialogue between the counselor and the client. Attending, probing, and summarizing are all core skills that help the counselor to actively engage with and understand the client’s experiences, thoughts, and feelings.

Attending refers to being fully present and showing interest in what the client is saying, which is foundational for building trust. Probing involves asking open-ended questions to encourage clients to explore their thoughts and feelings more deeply. Summarizing is used to condense and clarify what has been discussed, helping the client to reflect on their insights and progress. These skills foster effective communication and enhance the counseling process.

In contrast, legal analysis is not a fundamental communication skill within the counseling context. Although knowledge of legal issues may be important in certain situations, such as ensuring ethical practice or understanding confidentiality, it does not directly contribute to communication in a therapeutic setting. Thus, identifying legal analysis as the option that does not belong in the list of basic communication skills accurately represents the skills needed for a counselor to engage effectively with clients.