Chp 4 Flashcards
In fact, awareness of the close connection between nonverbals and emotions becomes clearer. Authorities vary, but many say that 85% or more of communication is nonverbal. Thomson (2011) reviewed the literature and found that 55% of communication is body language, 38% is the vocal tone of voice, and 7% is the actual words spoken.
Observation is the act of watching carefully and intentionally with the purpose of under-standing behavior and, when appropriate and timely, this leads us to change our behavior
In counseling, you may be so focused on a single issue you note in the client that you are
missing the underlying meanings; sometimes even emotion is ignored. Also, you may miss the cultural issues underlying the client’s conversation.
As we listen to a client’s story, we need to be constantly aware of how the client reacts to what we say—both verbally and nonverbally.
Your ability to observe will help you anticipate and understand what is occurring with your client, but be careful to watch for individual and cultural differences.
“The voice of the therapist, regardless of what he or she says, should be warm,
professional—competent, and free from fear”
Your vocal tone, perhaps more than anything else you do, conveys the emotional dimensions of your words and body. A “prosodic” vocal tone, both individually and culturally appropriate, is an important key to the relationship.
Movement Complementarity/synchrony
occurs when client and counselor demonstrate body movements
that mirror one another and suggests the presence of an empathic, authentic relationship.
Example: One person talks and the other person nods their head
Some expert counselors and therapists deliberately “mirror” their clients. Experience shows that matching body language, breathing rates, and key words of the client can heighten counselor understanding of how the client perceives and experiences the world.
Acculturation
Is the degree to which an individual has adopted the norms or standard way of behaving in each culture.
If you define yourself as White American, Canadian, or Australian and you think of others as the only people who are multicultural, you need to rethink your awareness. All of us are multicultural beings with varying and singular acculturation experiences.
If you listen carefully to clients, you will find that certain words appear again and again in their descriptions of situations. Noting their key words and helping them explore the facts, feelings, and meanings underlying those words may be useful.
Through intonation and volume, clients tend to stress the single words or phrases that are most closely related to central issues for discussion.
If the client tends to be concrete, listen to the specifics and enter that client’s world as they present it. If the client is abstract, listen and join that client where they are. Consider the possibility of helping the client look at the concern from the other perspective.
