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Nonverbal communication in social interactions
Nonverbal communication in social interactions
The role of nonverbal communication in interpersonal communicationthe importance of nonverbal communication in interpersonal communication
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In this essay, the importance of two skills - rapport building and empathy, to effective communication in healthcare are discussed. These skills play increasingly essential roles as healthcare delivery focuses evermore intently on achieving patient-centric experiences. The video, filmed with this in mind, depicts a client’s initial consultation to a podiatrist. A reflective piece on the effectiveness of therapist-client communication in the video is also discussed with reference to the skills.
Rapport Building
Rapport building refers to the verbal and nonverbal behaviours that one exhibit to develop a connection based on trust that would aid in effective communication (Barnett, 2001; Norfolk, et al., 2007). Essentially, it involves the things you would say and do to make the person you are communicating with feel at ease to disclose information and share emotions with you (Hazelwood & Shakespeare-Finch, 2011).
Active listening is central to building rapport. When one commits himself fully to listening, he is better able to empathise and make sense of things from the person’s perspective. Showing empathy thus reassures and encourages others to trust and open up. In fact, Norfolk, et al (2007) suggested that empathy is one of the biggest factors that influence doctor-patient rapport.
Merely listening however is insufficient to build rapport. Sharpley, et al (2000) showed that clients gave higher rapport ratings to counsellors who listened and responded effectively as compared to counsellors who were just “good listeners”. It was also observed that higher ratings were given when verbal encouragers, paraphrasing and empathic responses were used more extensively.
Verbal encouragers like “uh-huh” and “okay” provides client with feed...
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...of their predicament to be a challenge. I think this has to do with my mentality that since I now understand their difficulties, I must do more to help them find solutions, in a practical sense. I am not that attuned yet to the fact that through my empathic responses, I actually helped them feel and be better. Therefore, I aim to adopt this new perspective into my future communication.
Conclusion
Rapport building and empathy are two inter-related skills that ensure a harmonious therapist-client relationship. With a strong foundation in trust and mutual understanding, it is not hard then to achieve effective communication. As Norfolk et al (2007) mentioned, the quality of the doctor-patient communication is critical to the subsequent health outcomes of the patient. Hence, possessing these skills and using them effectively in communication is essential in healthcare.
Listening is a vital and important part of communication. While speaking clearly and concisely is imperative, true listening is central to speaking with mindfulness and in the case of the counselor, this mindfulness has the possibility of leading clients to their own solutions to life’s tough circumstances. In his book, Petersen (2007) breaks down the communication cycle so that we can be aware of how we react when people share their emotions with us, and how to effectively communicate by listening and speaking in turn to build strong and supportive relationships, whether they are personal or professional.
A positive relationship between the client and an empathetic therapist provides the client with a safe space and opportunity to express themselves and feel understood and accepted. Building the client-therapist relationship will occur at the onset of therapy, and will continue to be built and maintained throughout the process. A relationship is built through engagement between the two parties, particularly the therapist being involved and interested in what the client is interested in at that time (Cavett, 2015). This includes asking questions to show interest and allowing the client to take the lead on play. In encouraging a supportive relationship, a large component is the client feeling not only understood by the therapist, but also to feel accepted by the therapist throughout the therapeutic process. Building relationship within my therapeutic practice will include providing praise to the client for their effort within therapy, rather than focusing on the quality of how they are doing in therapy. Kottman and Ashby (2015) reflect on this by explaining that this is a way to build confidence within the client and portray to them that they are competent in learning and doing things for themselves. After
Hojat, M., Louis, D. Z., Maxwell, K., Markham, F., Wender, R., & Gonnella, J. S. (2010). Patient perceptions of physician empathy, satisfaction with physician, interpersonal trust, and compliance. International Journal of Medical Education, 1 (4), 83-87.
Therapeutic professional communication requires specific, well defined professional skills. These communications take place between a person who has a specific need and a person who is skilled in techniques that can alleviate or diminish that problem (Tamparo & Lindh, 2008). The foundation of a competent therapist is built upon the ability to communicate effectively. They must be able to adjust to a variety of environments and individuals, while managing personal influences such as culture, economical status, and moral values. Human relations skills translate directly into social and therapeutic communications when there is contact with persons seeking attention (Tamparo & Lindh, 2008).
The counselling process is one that may last for as little as one session or for years, it is within the middles stages of the helping relationship that particular counselling skills such as a focusing, challenging and immediacy can be implemented, as well as use of advanced empathy that can be applied due to increased familiarity with a speaker. Many actions may occur within middles stage of the helping relationship such as transitions that occur for a multitude of reasons and the outcome of which can vary based on the attitude of the speaker. Self-awareness remains vital throughout the entire counselling relationship due to the continual influence of empathy in the helping relationship and remaining aware my own motives and values when using advanced empathy and specific counselling skills. Ethics and boundaries are also involved within the counselling process as within a counselling relationship, I as the counsellor, must be careful with the balance or expenditure of power when challenging.
Counseling skills has provided me with a valuable insight into the helping relationship and how it is both created and maintained in order to encourage growth and development in the client. The factors involved within the helping relationship include considering Roger’s core conditions, congruence, unconditional positive regard and empathy as the three main characteristics necessary in a helping relationship. In order to fully incorporate all three of Roger’s core conditions, I as the counselor must be self-aware, as a lack of self-awareness may inhibit truly listening and understanding the client; self-awareness can be enhanced through exercises such as Johari’s window. Counseling skills such as body language and active listening also plays a role within encouraging the client to open up and can help me as the counselor convey empathy.
Retrieved from Bylund, C., Peterson, E., & Cameron, K. (2011). A practitioner’s guide to interpersonal communication theory: An overview and exploration of selected theories. Patient Education and Counselling. Volume 87. Issue 3 -.
The counselor accomplishes the above by expressing empathy, developing discrepancies, going along with resistance and supporting self-efficacy. Moreover, the counselor guides the client toward a solution that will lead to permanent posi...
As a counselor, the therapeutic relationship should be the main focus. It can be suggested that the most effective therapy begins with a warm and genuine relationship between the client and counselor. This relationship should be collaborative and based on respect, positive regard, acceptance, etc. Active listening skills, patience, empathy, and consistency represent some of the fundamental elements of establishing rapport.
Current research implies that an empathetic clinician-client relationship and interrelated ecosystems play the majority role in the success of therapy (Kilpatrick & Holland, 2009). The clinician’s ability to be present and actively perceive what the client is experiencing is of utmost importance in creating a therapeutic alliance. It is imperative that the clinician gains positive regard towards the client and their environment displaying honest acceptance towards the client no matter what issues are presented in session. This closely relates to a sincere presentation of genuineness that instills a feeling of honesty within the client and clinician (Kilpatrick & Holland, 2009). An experienced clinician builds upon the therapeutic
Listening can be defined as empathy, silent, attention to both verbal and nonverbal communication and the ability to be nonjudgmental and accepting (Shipley 2010). Observing a patient’s non-verbal cues, for example, shaking or trembling may interpret as an underlying heart condition that may not have been addressed (Catto & Mahmud 2012). Empathy is defined as being mindful of and emotional to the feelings, opinions, and encounters of another (Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary 2009 as cited in Shipley 2010). Providing an environment conducive to nonjudgmental restraints allows the patient to feel respected and trusted whereby the patient can share information without fear of negativity (Shipley 2010). For example, a patient who trusts a nurse builds rapport enabling open communication advocating a positive outcome (Baker et al. 2013). Subsequently, repeating and paraphrasing a question displays effective listening skills of knowledge learned (Shipley 2010). Adopting a therapeutic approach to listening potentially increases the patient’s emotional and physical healing outcomes (Shipley 2010). Nonetheless, patients who felt they were genuinely heard reported feelings of fulfilment and harmony (Jonas- Simpson et al. 2006 as cited in Shipley 2010). Likewise, patients may provide
Rapport and empathy are two essential skills for communication in health services. In this integrative essay, it is displayed how rapport and empathy play an important role for communication in health services, such as counselling and psychotherapy. Empathy helps building rapport with the client. Both skills are needed in counselling, because once the client has found trust in the counsellor there is a bigger chance of them opening up about their feelings. If a client has a good rapport with the counsellor, they are less likely to discontinue the sessions. A five minute non-scripted video is included with this essay and will be referred back to, while describing and discussing rapport building and empathic listening. The video’s content is a first interview with a client, where the client tells the counsellor about a troubling issue. At the end a self-reflection is included, which will reflect upon the video, the challenges faced and future improvements for personal improvement upon communication skills.
2) Empathy: it can be tough, but developed by practice. Empathy builds trust with client, so that client can express themselves freely. Empathy shown by both way verbally and nonverbally. It is primary response of communication.
As we all know the world can throw us some curves and change the course one may expect in their life. Listening to what others are saying is to help them in some way or another. As a counselor my goal is to apply myself as an effective listener because it’s required and if my listening skills are not up to par, then there is no reason to be in that field profession. There was a time when a friend was relying on me to listen to a problem she was having in her marriage, instead of listening my reaction was “you need a marriage counselor” she then became disappointed because my focus wasn’t on what she was saying instead my focus was on what she didn’t say and only then was my response would have been given. This to me was a mental distraction because the focus was on what my reply would have been instead of what she was actually saying to me. Listening mindfully requires us to be completely aware of what is being said and why, it is here we an understanding can be made clear (Hall D. 2017). A person who is sharing openness is most always appreciated and valued over closed mindedness in both face to face communication and online (Joseph A. DeVito 2012). Over the course of my own life there have been many occasions where effective listening was required, academically, emotionally, mentally and on a support level of
The skill that I am the best at or at least would give myself the highest score in would be showing empathy. I am not sure why I am skilled in this it just seems to come naturally to me. I have always found myself to be a very empathetic person who is able to understand the thoughts, feelings, beliefs and, attitudes of others almost as well as my own. One way that I have shown empathy is by being open to learning about the experiences of others including other cultures, races and religions. Learning about struggles of others and the impact their struggles have on the world as a whole has increased my ability to show empathy. I think that my empathetic nature has both helped me and hurt me in my life. It has helped me as a counselor, as