Reflective Listening
Reflective Listening Skills Answers
Why is reflective listening important to your work as a parenting practitioner? Describe what your inner attitude needs to be in order to listen helpfully.
Reflective listening is a two-fold process which involves:
1. Really hearing and understanding what the other person is saying through words and body language, and
2. Reflecting feelings and thoughts you heard through your own words, tone-of-voice, body posture and gesture so that the other person knows he or she is understood.
Reflective listening is important when working with parents, as we need to build up a trusting relationship, based on congruence, empathy, respect and positive regard for the parent. By using these listening techniques we are able to show the parents we understand where they are coming from and offer them their fears and feelings back, in a non-threatening way – this allows parents to recognise and acknowledge themselves and their feelings, which is the first step towards bringing about the changes they wish to see. We must also remember that we are role models for parents who may be struggling, and by showing parents how to actively listen, this can enhance their relationship’s with their children, family, partner, etc.
In order to show empathy, respect, positive regard and congruence, we have to be aware of what is going on for us. Every body will come across a parent or professional that they cannot seem to click with, this is usually due to our own past experiences or upbringing – it is by acknowledging what is going on for us, and the use of supervisions, that we can (as the professional) put aside our own anxieties, in order to treat every parent with the dignity and respect they deserve. Reflective listening is extremely important when holding groups and call taking. Not only do you have to understand the ways in which to listen to others, how to reflect, paraphrase and use listening skills to aid the parent but your own
Why is reflective listening important to your work as a parenting practitioner? Describe what your inner attitude needs to be in order to listen helpfully.
Reflective listening is a two-fold process which involves:
1. Really hearing and understanding what the other person is saying through words and body language, and
2. Reflecting feelings and thoughts you heard through your own words, tone-of-voice, body posture and gesture so that the other person knows he or she is understood.
Reflective listening is important when working with parents, as we need to build up a trusting relationship, based on congruence, empathy, respect and positive regard for the parent. By using these listening techniques we are able to show the parents we understand where they are coming from and offer them their fears and feelings back, in a non-threatening way – this allows parents to recognise and acknowledge themselves and their feelings, which is the first step towards bringing about the changes they wish to see. We must also remember that we are role models for parents who may be struggling, and by showing parents how to actively listen, this can enhance their relationship’s with their children, family, partner, etc.
In order to show empathy, respect, positive regard and congruence, we have to be aware of what is going on for us. Every body will come across a parent or professional that they cannot seem to click with, this is usually due to our own past experiences or upbringing – it is by acknowledging what is going on for us, and the use of supervisions, that we can (as the professional) put aside our own anxieties, in order to treat every parent with the dignity and respect they deserve. Reflective listening is extremely important when holding groups and call taking. Not only do you have to understand the ways in which to listen to others, how to reflect, paraphrase and use listening skills to aid the parent but your own