Active Listening Techniques in Counseling

Attending, Paraphrasing, and Reflecting Feelings

• Attending: Active listening through verbal (nodding, eye contact) and nonverbal cues (open body posture) shows engagement.
• Paraphrasing: Rephrasing the client's message confirms understanding ("So you're saying you feel overwhelmed by all the changes?").
• Reflecting Feelings: Identifying and naming the emotion behind a statement ("It sounds like you're feeling anxious about the future.").

Errors in Questioning Techniques (Pitfalls)

• Leading Questions: These imply a specific answer ("Don't you think it would be better if you apologized?").

Open, Closed, and Indirect Questions

• Open Questions: Encourage deeper discussion ("How do you feel about that?").
  • Advantage: Promotes exploration of thoughts/feelings.
  • Disadvantage: May lead to unfocused responses.
• Closed Questions: Elicit specific, short answers ("Are you feeling stressed?").
  • Advantage: Useful for clarifying specific details.
  • Disadvantage: Limits expression.
• Indirect Questions: Encourage reflection without directly asking ("Some people in your situation feel frustrated. Does that resonate with you?").

Concreteness in Counselling

• Concreteness means making conversations specific, clear, and goal-oriented.
• Achieved by avoiding vague language, clarifying statements, and breaking down abstract ideas into actionable steps.

Three Areas of Functioning (Domains)

• Cognitive: Thinking
• Emotional: Feelings
• Behavioral: Actions and behaviors

Acronym MOANS

• The acronym MOANS (Must, Ought, Always, Never, Should) signifies issues in the cognitive domain of functioning.

Word Modifiers

• Modifiers (e.g., extremely, very, somewhat) adjust the intensity or tone of a statement. ("I feel a little frustrated" vs. "I feel extremely frustrated").

Metaphors in Expressing Emotion

• Metaphors help clients articulate complex feelings ("I feel like I'm carrying the weight of the world").

Three Forms of Empathy

• Basic Empathy: Reflecting the client's feelings accurately.
• Inferred Empathy: Identifying underlying emotions from nonverbal cues and tone.
• Invitational Empathy: Encouraging clients to express emotions ("It seems like there's a lot on your mind—can you tell me more?").

Feelings Chart and Emotion Categories

• Categories like Fear, Anger, and Sadness are categorized by intensity (low, medium, high).

Tough Empathy

• Definition: Balancing understanding with accountability; expressing care while challenging clients to face truths ("I hear that you're feeling stuck, but taking even small steps might help you feel more in control").
• Counselor's Perspective: Empathy is essential for understanding client feelings and building the helping relationship.

Developing Tough Empathy Responses

• Formula:
  1. Acknowledge feelings/situation empathetically.
  2. Confront behavior/reality directly.
  3. Express care and support with encouragement.
• Example Response: "I know you're going through a lot, and it's understandable to feel trapped. But continuing to have unprotected sex is a huge risk. You deserve better, and I'm here to help you take steps to protect yourself."

Metaphors for Feelings

• Happy: Happy as a Clam.
• Embarrassed: Deer in headlights.
• Relieved: Weight off my shoulder.
• Jealous: Burning with envy.
• Ashamed: Caught in a downpour without an umbrella.
• Depressed: I feel like I'm drowning.
• Stressed: Caught between a rock and a hard place

Kahoot Review

• "Why" questions: Use cautiously; they can make clients defensive.
• Reflecting Feelings example: "Even though you are often frustrated, you feel obligated."
• Paraphrasing example: "The fact that your sister is unsafe is a serious concern."
• "What" questions: Fact-oriented.
• Open-response stem phrase: "How have..."
• Low Fear: Nervous
• Medium Fear: Jumpy
• High Fear: Amazed
• Leading/multiple question: "Do you think you will go to work or university after you graduate?"
• Best response to "My kids are driving me crazy": "Can you tell me more about this issue?"
• Counseling focus: Client and present.
• "Could" questions: Flexible and respectful.
• "How" questions: Person-oriented.
• "Why" questions: Often make clients defensive.
• Invitational Empathy: Encourages exploration of emotions.
• MOANS: Cognitive domain issues.
• Inferred Empathy: Identifying feelings from non-verbal cues.
• Closed questions: Useful for specific information.

This quiz covers essential communication skills, including attending, paraphrasing, and reflecting feelings. Additionally, it addresses common pitfalls in questioning techniques, such as leading questions, and explores the differences between open and closed questions. Enhance your understanding of effective dialogue in counseling settings.