Cochlear implant specialists daily observe patients and families grapple with a wide range of emotions. As nonprofessional counsellors, we can help patients address those emotions by providing more opportunities to talk about their thoughts and feelings. This paper will review some familiar counselling challenges, such as the disappointment that comes from slower-than-expected progress and the hard work of "listening effort" associated with cochlear implants. This paper will describe a counselling strategy that makes the distinction between "feeling responsible" and "being responsive".