direction the person wants to go (regain joy and optimism). These skills, done well, sound vivid, not canned. If you are engaged, if you are listening to understand, if you are reaching to understand better, then your summary goes a little deeper and elaborates on what has been put on the table so far. A good summary will generate real confidence in the counselee and a sense that the counselor “gets me.” A good summary invites the person to take the next step. Notice, too, that the personal response/