However, we all know that when someone tries to tell us that we are doing something wrong, we can become defensive. Defense, “…is a feeling of excessive concern in protecting oneself from the threat of criticism or attacks on one's ego.” (Floyd 340) Being defensive is a sign of a negative communication climate, which we want to avoid in a communication environment like marriage counseling. Jack Gibb outlined six types of messages that promote advocacy and six that promote support. I have provided the ones that I believe will help me the most in my future endeavors. Evaluation versus description, “evaluation expresses an opinion about the value or value of another person's behavior, while description provides details about the person's behaviors without making judgments.” Controlling vs. Problem Orientation, “Controlling messages manipulate others to act in a specific way, problem orientation encourages collaboration and creative thinking.” Neutrality versus empathy: “Neutral statements imply lack of concern, empathy conveys concern for what others feel and experience.” Certainty versus provisionalism, “Certainty offers inflexible conclusions with no room for debate, the provisional offers flexible ideas, in the hope of generating dialogue.” (Floyd