Counseling and Wellness Services
Wednesday’s Words of Wellness
Words of Wellness are resources for students to access and utilize
to improve and maintain their overall wellness.
While the Wellness Center’s Counseling and Wellness Services are available Monday – Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. for counseling, consultation, and referral needs on a remote basis (phone or Zoom video session), we wanted to share additional resources that may be beneficial.
For today’s Words of Wellness, we will be focusing on Communication. As humans, we communicate in so many different ways. There is verbal communication where we are explicitly stating what we are thinking or feeling through words or text, and there is nonverbal communication such as body language, facial expressions, and our behavior that can indicate how we are feeling and what we are thinking.
We are constantly communicating each and every day, however there often isn’t a class we take growing up that informs us as to how to communicate effectively with others. For as much as we talk and communicate throughout our day, there are things left unsaid. These are often feelings, emotions, or thoughts that we have difficulty expressing, but they can also be snippets of information about how we want to be supported and how someone can check in with us. Throughout this post you will find several handouts that discuss helpful tips and information regarding communication, provided by TherapistAid.com.
Passive, Aggressive, and Assertive Communication
Therapist Aid explains that “communication skills are an essential foundation” for interacting with ourselves and the world around us. “Everyone uses each of the communication styles from time-to-time, but many people tend to lean on one more heavily. The Passive, Aggressive, and Assertive Communication worksheet gives an overview of each communication style, along with tips to help you recognize each one. This provides a great starting point for conversations about communication styles, and replacing aggression and passivity with assertiveness.”
As the graphic above describes, Assertive Communication is the most effective form of communication because it is a win-win scenario. We are expressing what we need and what we feel, as we are caring about the other person or people in the conversation. You can see in the graphic that the other forms of communication, someone is always losing.
Passive, Aggressive Communication Worksheet
Assertive Communication
“Assertiveness is a communication style in which a person stands up for their own needs and beliefs, while also respecting the needs of others. Assertive communication is defined by mutual respect, diplomacy, and directness.
Our Assertive Communication Worksheet includes one page of psychoeducation, and a second page of practice exercises, that will help you learn to use assertive communication in your own life.” — TherapistAid.com
“I” Statements
TherapistAid.com states that “When a person feels that they are being blamed — whether rightly or wrongly — it’s common that they respond with defensiveness. “I” statements are a simple way of speaking that will help you avoid this trap by reducing feelings of blame. A good “I” statement takes responsibility for one’s own feelings, while tactfully describing a problem.
Our “I” Statements Worksheet includes education and tips that will help you apply the technique in real-life situations, along with several practice examples.”
Active Listening
“There’s more to being a good listener than hearing the words another person says. For effective communicators, listening is an active process, rather than a passive one. An active listener is a participant in a conversation — not just an audience.
The Active Listening worksheet breaks the communication skill into three steps: show you’re listening, encourage sharing, and strive to understand. The worksheet describes skills for each step, such as using verbal and nonverbal cues and asking open-ended questions.
Although none of the individual skills are complicated, they can be difficult to use consistently. After reviewing the skills in the handout, take turns role-playing as an active listener and speaker.” — TherapistAid.com
Active Listening Communication Skill Worksheet
“There’s more to being a good listener than hearing the words another person says. For effective communicators, listening is an active process, rather than a passive one. An active listener is a participant in a conversation — not just an audience.
The Active Listening worksheet breaks the communication skill into three steps: show you’re listening, encourage sharing, and strive to understand. The worksheet describes skills for each step, such as using verbal and nonverbal cues and asking open-ended questions.
Although none of the individual skills are complicated, they can be difficult to use consistently. After reviewing the skills in the handout, take turns role-playing as an active listener and speaker.” — TherapistAid.com
Reflections
“Reflections are a powerful tool to improve communication. This worksheet includes one page of education with an overview of how to use reflections (including tips and an example), followed by one page of practice statements.”– TherapistAid.com. Using reflections is a great way for those involved in a conversation to feel heard, understood and supported, without feeling the pressure of trying to give or receive advice. This tool is a great way to facilitate an effective conversation.
Reflections: Communication Skill Worksheet
We hope you all have a fantastic week filled with great conversation.
Best,
Counseling and Wellness Services
Campus Center Suite 270
518-629-7320
counseling@hvcc.edu
Published: Wed, 27 Jan 2021 12:55:51 +0000 by k.weeks