When working with a new client/patient, what mental processes do you use in order to tie together the vast array of non-verbal data points you observe into coherent patterns and eventually a diagnosis? originally appeared on Quora, the place to gain and share knowledge, empowering people to learn from others and better understand the world. You can follow Quora on Twitter, Facebook, and Google Plus.

There are lots of important non-verbal cues that I pay attention to as a therapist in order to better understand clients. For the sake of brevity I am listing some important non-verbal signals that I pay attention to, but not all of the possible meanings and interpretations of each non-verbal cue. In addition, some people may appear to demonstrate the same signals, but might be doing so for very different reasons, so it is important to interpret these signals within the context of that particular client and what they are discussing in therapy.

* Where a person sits in the room.

* How much or how little eye contact they make with me throughout the session, and where their gaze is focused in the room (at something in particular, up, down, sideways, eyes shut, etc).

* Their appearance: how much effort they appear to put into their appearance, or are they unkempt and struggling with self-care?

* When discussing emotionally charged topics I notice when a client’s breathing pattern changes, eyes are teary or glassy, their skin tone changes, etc.

* I notice whether they are leaning towards me or away from me, how their body position changes throughout the session, or at particular points. For example, often when someone is “chewing” on a new thought or idea they will cross their legs and twirl their foot, twirl their hair, or do other types of movements that they do not do during other feelings during the session.

* I notice how they come into my office. For example, some people almost bluster in like the wind with a ton of bags and a haphazard rushed energy, others take their time and look at their phones and move as slowly as possible.

* I notice fidgeting, nail-biting, body posture, etc.

* I notice whether they are “making contact” with me during the session. This is a Gestalt Therapy idea of recognizing when they are emotionally and psychologically engaged with you, or whether they appear to just be going through the motions or withdrawing from contact.

* I notice how they look at me. For example, there are some clients who will stare at a certain body part, or look up you and down the moment they see you. For example, with a client who can’t understand why people feel intimidated by them, and who may be unaware that the first thing they do is obviously look everyone they come in contact with up and down appearing to judge them (even if this is not their conscious intention).

* If they aren’t looking at me, I notice that as well as where in the room they are looking (at the ceiling, at a particular object or point in the room, down at the floor, sideways etc.) For example, I had a client who’s gaze remained very focused on the sex therapy books in the room during many sessions, and who I later learned was unconsciously associating sex with emotional connection. Part of what this client was working on in therapy was how to connect with other people, without immediately using her sexuality as a means to do so and building her confidence in her ability to connect to other people (outside of sex, romance, and physical connection).

* I notice how their breathing (rapid, slow, holding their breath) and changes in skin color, cheeks get pinker/face gets paler.

* I notice facial expressions like smiling, laughing, crying, etc.

The point is…

As a therapist, there are many useful non-verbal messages that can be helpful to better understand your clients.

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