Transcript Observation Skills - Seattle Central College

Observation Skills
What are you observing?
Self and Client
• In yourself– Physical sensation
– Your internal monologue
– Body language
– Congruity/genuineness
– Emotions
In your client
Nonverbal communication
1. Facial expression
2. Body language: posture, position changes,
hand gestures, head nodding,
rigidity/looseness
3. Proxemics-use of space
4. Paralanguage-tone of voice, volume, pitch,
intensity, non word utterances, patterns of
speech
Watch dvd-observe for specific examples
Verbal communication
1. Selective attention-what are you predisposed
to hear and focus on?
2. Key words
a. Noticing repetition
b. Using cx’s language
c. Noticing emphasized words
3. Concrete vs. abstract
4. “I” vs. “other” statements
Conflict, incongruity and discrepancy-138
1. Use of confrontation or challenge can
be useful.
2. Is client open to self reflection?
3. Does the client trust you?
Encouraging, Paraphrasing,
Summarizing
Major functions:
1. To convey you have heard and understood
what the client said.
2. To convey you understand the client’s
perspective, their worldview.
Secondary functions:
1. Clarify what was said for the client.
2. Clarify what was said for counselor.
3. Helping client elaborate on the story.
4. To help a rambling client focus.