W5 The Basic of Communication & Counseling Skills PDF

Communication Skills (Part 1) Hussah M. Altwejry, MSc Lecturer, Clinical Nutrition Department Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University 18/09/2024 1  Lecture Learning Outcomes: Identifying basic...

Communication Skills (Part 1) Hussah M. Altwejry, MSc Lecturer, Clinical Nutrition Department Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University 18/09/2024 1  Lecture Learning Outcomes: Identifying basic nutrition counseling goals. Recognizing the ways to help client for taking appropriate actions. Describing stages of new skill development. Recognizing the Communication Model and its transitions. Explaining cultural influence on communication. Utilizing guidelines for enhancing counseling communication effectiveness. Recognizing the 16 basic counseling responses.  Goals of nutrition counseling according to Haney & Leibsohn model of counseling: 1- Facilitating lifestyle awareness (achieved by keeping the focus on your client, acknowledging feelings, experiences and behavior, and providing information). 2- Supporting healthy lifestyle decision making (by exploring feelings, ambivalence (contradiction), inner strengths, behavior, and alternative options). 3- Encouraging clients to take appropriate actions (by having a healthier lifestyle and become self efficient). How can nutrition counselors help clients take appropriate actions? (conflict)  6- Proficiency: 5- Automatic You are an response: expertise. As 4- Conscious nutrition awareness: The skill is an counselor gain automatic proficiency, they 3- As ability is reaction with are feeling free Awkwardness: gained, a little or no 2- Learning: to experiment A degree of counselor feel forethought or with new Acquiring more discomfort. approach and to 1- Motivation: knowledge, discomfort in the comfortable but Having a desire to attitudes and initial sessions. A modify and new skills should be still consciously expand their learn (enhanced by skills (reading, undertaken with aware of the skills. supportive and participating in volunteers under process. positive learning environment that activities, supervision such as a encourage success making role-playing and mastering skills observations, situation. in a sequential, engaging in stepwise manner). discussion, and listening to presentations).  Model of Communication The talker may not In this model, a speaker's intended meaning can be distorted at different junctures (transitions). communicate clearly because of a faulty What the listener encoding process, or the Listening Words speaker said heard ability to express a thought. This happens when language skills are Decoding not adequate, or a Encoding person uses abstractions What the listener or generalization as a What the speaker thought the speaker way of dealing. actually meant Processing said Information  Cultural Influence on Communication Communication can be harder between two individuals from different cultures. The reason is the difference among cultural groups in Eye contact. ….. can create some degree of discomfort. Expressive body language. Personal space needed. Questioning, response speed. Way of greeting, handshake or smile. Degree of directness. Culture can affect the process of communication, communication style, beliefs and the ability to make behavioral changes.  How to Increase the Effectiveness of Communication? Guidelines for enhancing counseling communication effectiveness: 1- Use focus and 2- Use effective 3- Analyze non- 4- Use intent when non-verbal verbal behavior of communication 5- Use empathy formulating behavior the client roadblocks wisely responses  1. Use Intent and Focus when Formulating Responses Counseling is not a conversation with a friend. Use verbal and non-verbal responses with a specific: a. Intent (aim): why you are choosing this response? (rationale) b. Focus: emphasize in your response. Counseling intent: is a rationale for selecting a particular response. Counseling focus: is the placement of the emphasis in a response.  A) Counseling Response Intents 1- To acknowledge 2- To explore 3- To challenge If the counselor's intent is to The objective of a response If the counselor's intent is acknowledge, then could be for a client to: to help the client see their responses would be selected Explore ambivalence situation differently, or to that: Ask questions take a different course of Identify observations Clarify action, then a response Affirm and show respect response/concern that: Recognize the worthiness Provide information Notes a discrepancy of the client Gain insight (conflict) could be ✓ relationship building selected (details in next responses ☺ class). Will be covered in details next class  B) Nutrition Counseling Response Focuses The focus of a response could be placed on information about a client or a client's general experiences. The experience response can be subdivided into: o Feelings o Thoughts o Behavior  Practice: Observe the intent and the focus in the following responses: 1- “Your blood evaluation indicated that you have a high cholesterol level. Your dietary evaluation shows a high saturated fat intake and a low intake of fibers, fruits and vegetables”. focus: information, intent: to explore  Practice: Observe the intent and the focus in the following responses: 2- “ How did you handle the party last week?” focus: experience (behavior), intent: to explore  Practice: Observe the intent and the focus in the following responses: 3- “You have the right to feel angry about having to handle another dietary modification.” focus: experience (feeling), intent: to acknowledge  Practice: Observe the intent and the focus in the following responses: 4- “I am getting the impression that you are thinking that you are a bad person because you ate a lot of cheese at the party”. focus: experience (thought), intent: to explore  Practice: Observe the intent and the focus in the following responses: 5- “You set a goal to limit your intake of cheese to one ounce a day, but at the party you ate much more.” focus: experience (behavior), intent: to challenge  2. Use Effective Non-verbal Behavior Non-verbal body language is more trusted than verbal (people believe what you do, not what you say!). Discuss that, and state what you think. ✓ Body language can communicate your understanding of the client’s hidden emotions (such as joyful expression or attentive silence). Unproductive non-verbal behaviors decrease communication (like yawning, looking at the watch, playing with hair … etc.). Match the intensity of the verbal and the non-verbal messages (try to harmonize verbal & non-verbal behaviors).  Effective Non-verbal Behaviors Gesture Facial Voice expression Posture (highlight your words (clearly (match your (relaxed but Distance audible, Regular eye by gesturing). own or other attentive, average contact Such as (within arm’s feelings). leaning speed, shows nodding, length). Such as slightly concern). pointing on smiling, forward). something, surprising, … thumb up, …  Do not forget to use these non-verbal behaviors during your counseling sessions (Course Project). You need to know the opposite.  3. Analyze the Non-verbal Behavior of Your Client Observe and interpret your client’s body language. Identify non-verbal cues (like facial expression, body language, tone of voice and personal space) as signs for unspoken feelings. You can ask your client to explain his\her non-verbal behavior (e.g., I noticed you look concerned, what does this mean?). If there are mixed messages, ask for explanation. Non-verbal behavior meaning differ from culture to culture (e.g., direct eye contact is a sign of interest (in some cultures) while avoiding eye contact is common between men and women in Arabic culture).  4. Use Communication Roadblocks Wisely Roadblocks are obstacles that block the communication in which the counselor interrupts the client’s self exploration. It gets in the way of listening and gives a message “listen to me, I know better than you”. Examples of responses (warning, commanding, criticizing, changing the subject even agreeing and sympathizing). Any response that involves imposing (forcing) your views, judgements, feelings on the client. Roadblocks are not totally wrong!! They can be used effectively in the counseling process. Use to change the direction of the communication. Only use them after you believe you listened and understood your client, not too often or too soon.  5. Use Empathy NOT Sympathy Empathy: True understanding of another's unique experience and perspectives without judging, criticizing or blaming. Empathy is not Sympathy; Empathy: is what I feel as you. Sympathy: is what I feel toward you.  5. Use Empathy (cont.) Emphasis for developing an effective relationship is often placed on the first meeting and at the beginning of each session. Why do we need to share empathy? ✓ The client’s perception of being heard and seen by you, which works as supportive environment for growth and finding solutions. Empathy needs the use of reflective listening. You do not need to have similar experiences to empathize. Basic Counseling Responses Legitimation Attending Reflection (affirmation, Respect (active listening) (empathizing) normalization) Mirroring (echoing, Paraphrasing Personal support Partnership parroting) (summarizing) Sixteen basic counseling responses Noting a to accomplish an Giving feedback Questioning Clarifying (probing, discrepancy effective nutritional (immediacy) prompting) (challenging, confrontation) counseling session (next class). Self-referent ( self- Directing Advice Allowing silence disclosing & self- (instructions) involving)  Reference: Nutrition Counseling and Education Skills Development (Chapter 3: Communication Essentials), Bauer Liou, Cengage Learning, 3rd edition, 2015. YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR OWN SUCCESS! Thank You.. Any Question? [email protected]