OARS
Summaries are a specialized form of reflective listening; reflecting back to the client what he or she has been telling you. Summaries are an effective way to communicate your interest in a client, build rapport and call attention to discussion points and to shift attention or direction.
The structure of the summary is straightforward. Begin with an announcement that you are about to summarize, list selected elements, and invite the client to correct anything missed and then ask an open-ended question. If ambivalence was evident prior to the summary, this should be included in the summary. Here's an example,
"Let me stop and summarize what we've just talked about. You’re not sure that you want to be here today and you really only came because your partner insisted on it. At the same time, you've had some nagging thoughts of your own about what's been happening, including how much you've been using recently, the change in your physical health and your missed work. Did I miss anything? I'm wondering what you make of all those things."
Reflect what the client has said and encourage the client to supply meaning. Listen to how the client describes the problem. Understanding the client’s problem will help you guide the client toward change.