COUC 505 Notes (week 2)
Counselors track the client:
Observations:
oFacial expressions (smiles, frowns, raised eyebrows, eye movement)
ophysical characteristics (fitness, height, weight, complexation)
ovoice related behavior (tone of voice, pitch, volume, intensity, spacing of
words, pauses, fluency)
ospace (personal space)
oobservable autonomic physical responses (quickened breathing, blushing,
paleness)
oGeneral appearance (grooming, dress, hygiene)
Track your observations in your notes, so you can compare over time.
Counselor communication pitfalls:
Being too stoic
Too animated
Repetitive (verbal or on-verbal’s)
Closed body language
Too relaxed
Staring too much
Matching expression rather than tone of content
Head nodding too much
Counselor non-attentive listening:
Jumping to conclusion
Parroting/constantly repeating without being emotionally present
Interrogating with questions
Planning what you will say next
Focusing on other people in the story
Listening for enjoyment
Stereotyping; bias listening
Sympathetic/emotional listening
Focusing on advice/problem-solving
Reflection:
Reflecting content:
Restating what the client has said
Paraphrase content in your own words
Focus on ESSENTIAL content
Reflecting Emotions
Active listening
Using the client’s words
Pace them, when they are talking to fast, bring them back
Don’t mirror their emotions when it doesn’t match the content (example: laughing talking
about trauma)
Don’t get stuck on details that aren’t about your client
Keep the focus on your client and their emotions
In session today we are only:
Reflective listening and minimal encouragers
Only 1 “Tell me more…”
Don’t ask any questions
