Silence & Withdrawalbeginner
Three Sessions of One-Word Answers
Tolerate silence and wonder aloud with a client who has gone quiet.
The situation
I am the therapist. For three sessions my client has answered in one or two words and said "I don't know" to almost everything. I need to stop filling the silence, reflect what I notice tentatively, and find out what has made it hard to talk.
Who you will be talking to: Withdrawn Client
Expect one-word answers and long pauses. Rushing or filling the silence reads as pressure and keeps them shut down.
What tends to work
- Let silence sit — don't rush to fill it
- Reflect tentatively: "I notice it got quiet after I asked that"
- Ask permission to wonder aloud rather than interpreting outright
One way to open: “We can take this at whatever pace feels okay. I'm not in a hurry.”
Say it out loud, then see what you said
Reading about a hard conversation is not the same as having it. You talk to an AI counterpart by voice, like a phone call, and afterwards get a scorecard that quotes your own words: what helped, and what to try next time.
More mental health scenarios
Dialoque is a practice tool for communication skills. It is not medical, clinical or legal advice. Read the disclaimer.