Since HIV counselling is a conversation or dialogue between the counsellor and client, the counsellor needs certain communication skills in order to facilitate change. Show
The counsellor needs the following basic communication skills to do effective counselling: 1. AttendingAttending refers to the ways in which counsellors can be “with” their clients, both physically and psychologically. Effective attending tells clients that you are with them and that they can share their world with you. Effective attending also puts you in a position to listen carefully to what your clients are saying. The acronym SOLER can be used to help you to show your inner attitudes and values of respect and genuineness towards a client (Egan.) S: Squarely face your client. Adopt a bodily posture that indicates involvement with your client. (A more angled position may be preferable for some clients - as long as you pay attention to the client.) A desk between you and your client may, for instance, create a psychological barrier between you. O: Open posture. Ask yourself to what degree your posture communicates openness and availability to the client. Crossed legs and crossed arms may be interpreted as diminished involvement with the client or even unavailability or remoteness, while an open posture can be a sign that you are open to the client and to what he or she has to say. L: Lean toward the client (when appropriate) to show your involvement and interest. To lean back from your client may convey the opposite message. E: Eye contact with a client conveys the message that you are interested in what the client has to say. If you catch yourself looking away frequently, ask yourself why you are reluctant to get involved with this person or why you feel so uncomfortable in his or her presence. Be aware of the fact that direct eye contact is not regarded as acceptable in all cultures. R: Try to be relaxed or natural with the client. Don't fidget nervously or engage in distracting facial expressions. The client may begin to wonder what it is in himself or herself that makes you so nervous! Being relaxed means that you are comfortable with using your body as a vehicle of personal contact and expression and for putting the client at ease. Effective attending puts counsellors in a position to listen carefully to what their clients are saying or not saying. 2. ListeningListening refers to the ability of counsellors to capture and understand the messages clients communicate as they tell their stories, whether those messages are transmitted verbally or nonverbally. Active listening involves the following four skills:
Active listening is unfortunately not an easy skill to acquire. Counsellors should be aware of the following hindrances to effective listening (Egan, 1998):
3. Basic empathy
Some of the stumbling blocks to effective empathy are the following:
4. Probing or questioningProbing involves statements and questions from the counsellor that enable clients to explore more fully any relevant issue of their lives. Probes can take the form of statements, questions, requests, single word or phrases and non-verbal prompts. Probes or questions serve the following purposes:
Keep the following in mind when you use probes or questions:
5. SummarisingIt is sometimes useful for the counsellor to summarise what was said in a session so as to provide a focus to what was previously discussed, and so as to challenge the client to move forward. Summaries are particularly helpful under the following circumstances:
6. Integrating communication skillsCommunication skills should be integrated in a natural way in the counselling process. Skilled counsellors continually attend and listen, and use a mix of empathy and probes to help the client to come to grips with their problems. Which communication skills will be used and how they will be used depends on the client, the needs of the client and the problem situation. What is verbal communication in communication?Verbal communication is about language, both written and spoken. In general, verbal communication refers to our use of words while nonverbal communication refers to communication that occurs through means other than words, such as body language, gestures, and silence.
What do you call the process of sending and receiving messages through verbal?Communication is the process of sending and receiving messages through verbal or nonverbal means, including speech, or oral communication; writing and graphical representations (such as infographics, maps, and charts); and signs, signals, and behavior.
What are the four types of verbal communication?Four Types of Verbal Communication. Intrapersonal Communication. This form of communication is extremely private and restricted to ourselves. ... . Interpersonal Communication. This form of communication takes place between two individuals and is thus a one-on-one conversation. ... . Small Group Communication. ... . Public Communication.. What do you call a form of communication in which the message is transmitted verbally word of mouth and a piece of writing do communication?Verbal communication refers to the the form of communication in which message is transmitted verbally; communication is done by word of mouth and a piece of writing.
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