What type of reflection is the coach demonstrating when they acknowledge the client's difficulty with giving up sugar?

The coach is demonstrating a simple reflection when they acknowledge the client's difficulty with giving up sugar. Simple reflection involves restating what the client has expressed in their own words, showing that the coach has been listening and understands the client’s experience. By acknowledging the client's struggle, the coach validates their feelings and provides a supportive response.

This type of reflection is effective because it promotes an open dialogue, encourages the client to share more about their thoughts and feelings, and reinforces the coaching relationship. Simple reflections help to build rapport and trust, making clients feel heard and understood, which is essential in a coaching process.

When considering the other types of reflections, complex reflections involve paraphrasing the client's words while adding meaning or depth, double-sided reflections acknowledge both sides of a client's ambivalence, and amplified reflections exaggerate what the client has said to evoke a stronger response. None of these are present in the situation described, where the coach is merely restating the difficulty the client has expressed. Therefore, the simple reflection is the most appropriate choice in this context.