How does active listening differ from reflective listening?

Active listening encompasses a broader set of skills compared to reflective listening. While reflective listening primarily focuses on paraphrasing or summarizing the speaker's message to confirm understanding, active listening involves several additional elements. These elements include asking questions for clarification, demonstrating empathy, and being fully present in the conversation, which allows the listener to truly understand the speaker's perspective and emotions.

By actively engaging in the communication process, the listener not only reflects the content being shared but also processes and integrates the information, making connections and remembering key details. This deeper level of engagement is what distinguishes active listening from reflective listening.