when talking about a serious issue, sometimes a young person will become distracted and temporarily withdraw from the counselling process. They many play with their shoes or jewellery, or look out the window at something that is happening outside. This distraction may serve the same purpose as a digression. It may allow the young person to escape from continuing to talk about an important but very troubling issue. However, we also need to recognize that they may have just lost the energy and desire to continue talking, and consequently have become distracted.