Discussion - Culture and Nonverbal Communication
In everyday conversation, you probably find yourself pausing, listening, and reflecting on what the other person is saying. These naturally occurring moments of silence are arguably as important to the communication process as the spoken words are. Counseling sessions are no different-it is often an appropriate technique to sit in silence with your client(s). For example, a counselor may remain silent in order to allow a client to ponder what she or he just said or to facilitate smooth transitions between topics and a natural progression of clients' thoughts. Silence may be used effectively in conjunction with other nonverbal skills, such as body language and eye contact, to build the therapeutic alliance. On the other hand, abrupt silences and prolonged unproductive silence can damage that alliance.
For this Discussion, review this week's Learning Resources and consider how and when you might use silence to benefit a client.
Post by Day 4 an example of when using silence as a technique might benefit a client in a counseling session. Then, explain how you might use the technique in that particular situation. Finally, explain the degree to which you are comfortable using silence as a technique with a client.
Be sure to support your initial post of the week with specific references to the Learning Resources and the current literature.
Read a selection of your colleagues' postings.
Respond by Day 6 to at least two of your colleagues' postings in one or more of the following ways:
· Share an insight from having read your colleague's posting.
· Provide an alternative way to use the technique in the situation your colleague described.
· Provide an alternative suggestion for when you might use silence in counseling.
· Suggest how a colleague's use of silence might have a different outcome than intended.
Return to this Discussion in a few days to read the responses to your initial posting. Note what you have learned and/or any insights you have gained as a result of the comments your colleagues made.
Assignment 1 - Assignment: Confrontation in Counseling
Complete the "Confrontation Skills Worksheet" according to the directions, using the assigned readings and course media found in the Learning Resources.
Assignment 2 - Journal: Information/ Psychoeducation
Why is it a bad idea for counselors to give ‘advice'? What if the client asks?
This Journal entry is a type of counselor "show and tell" in which you will first identify a particular client or population and then explain how you might briefly teach them some evidence-based information relevant to their concerns that would provide depth and structure to the counseling session.
Briefly describe the specific evidence-based information or model that you selected to share with clients during a counseling session. Be specific about the exact phrasing of how this would be presented. Describe the impact that sharing this information or model might have upon the counseling session that follows. Finally explain the difference between the micro-skill of Information and value-generated advice giving.