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Importance Of Verbal Aids In Counselling

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and counsellor. Verbal aids such as paraphrasing, open questions, clarifying and summarising are skills considered vital to the social connection, dialogue and information exchange between the two. Non-verbal cues such as eye contact, facial expressions, nodding or other head movements are valuable in that they signal empathy, congruence, understanding and encouragement.
As evidenced by the skills recording and accompanying transcript (start 00:22) I believe I have demonstrated a person centred approach, using the Rogerian conditions of being in psychological contact and congruent with the client demonstrating unconditional positive regard and an empathic understanding of the client’s internal frame of reference.
Using active listening, eye contact, nodding and other head movements throughout the session I believe I demonstrated authentic effective communication. Lines 35-46 of the transcript demonstrate psychological contact and congruence with the client; use of the word “upset” (line 38), summarising and the restating of the word “sad” reflected back to the client that she had been heard and understood. Use of non-verbal cues such as smiling (lines 40 & 47-54), nodding (throughout session) were used to encourage the client while other facial expressions (grimace, lines 66-68) were used to show empathy and understanding. Use of verbal skills such as paraphrasing (lines 78-80; 82-83; 85; 97-99) demonstrated immediacy (lines 83; 98-99) an authentic presence (lines 82-82;

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