Week 2: Best Practices in Verbal and Nonverbal Communication
Human services professional practice utilizes the person-centered approach, meaning the practitioner views the service user as an equal partner in the relationship, treats them with respect, and supports the goals they have. But how does this approach play out in a human services interaction? How is person-centeredness shown through the verbal and nonverbal communication skills of the practitioner?
For this Discussion, you observe and analyze two interactions between a human services professional practitioner and a service user, identifying the communication skills at play.
To Prepare
- Review your course announcements for possible information related to this week’s Discussion and Assignment.
- Read the Learning Resources on verbal and nonverbal communication and the person-centered approach.
- View the video in the Learning Resources depicting two meetings between a service user and a practitioner.
- Reflect on the communication skills the practitioner displays in the video. Pay close attention to the skills you have read about such as body language, eye contact, listening, paraphrasing, reflecting, and basic empathy.
Post an explanation of the verbal and nonverbal communication skills the practitioner used effectively in a person-centered manner. Then explain the verbal or nonverbal communication skills that were lacking or used ineffectively in the video. Justify your response. Then apply these ideas to yourself: How can you as a human services professional practitioner improve engagement and create healthy and productive helping relationships through verbal and nonverbal communication?
Tutorial for Best Practices in Verbal and Nonverbal Communication
