Week 3 – Open and attentive posture.

Open and attentive posture, will help put you “patient” in a safe place, allow them to feel comfortable. Your posture will help them open up and encourage them to open up.

Stand or sit straight with your arms at your side. Keep your feet on the floor. Do not fidget and look straight at the person you are listening to. Maintain eye contact. Mirror what your client is doing, if they are leaning back and are relaxed, do the same. Mirroring has the ability to let your audience know that you are on the same page. It can put strangers at ease, even if only subconsciously. Small nodding movements of the head, saying “go on”, yes or aha communicate that you are listening and engaged with the speaker.

All other small movements that you make can give the impression that you are bored and not interested. You should not cross your legs or arms, this position which may be a comfortable way to sit gives the impression that you are defensive or closed off. A barrier is being put between you.

During the role play I sat facing the “client”, both my feet were on the floor. Both of my arms  were at my side, my shoulders down and relaxed, my hands were on my lap. I looked straight at the client and kept eye contact at all times. I kept my body posture comfortable.

I ensured I did not fidget but I did subtlety mirror the other persons body language.

These actions expressed interest in what was being said and empathy with the client.

The group is starting to come together, things are still uncomfortable during the role play.

Personally things are starting to come together, I’m finding the course work difficult but getting easier. Training my mint to learn again. So many things to remember. What to do and why.

Week 2 – Setting Boundary’s, Limit’s…………

 

Struggled to understand why till everything was explained.

Easy to understand now, you may be helping the “other” but you have to protect yourself from what you may need to do.

• Set a time limit or you could be there all day.
• You’re not a counselor so let them know, no false pretenses here.
• The last thing you want is to be told something confidential and you have a legal responsibility to advise another authority.
• Keep yourself safe.

I am in the process of working out a form of words that will help me explaine what my limits as a helper are. Still a work in progress.

• I cannot give you advice, I will not try and find a solution, I am not qualified in any way to advise you the best course of action, but I have 10 mins for a chat.
• Before we go any further I need to mention that everything said here remains confidential within certain limits. If you say anything that leads me to believe that you or any other is at risk especially children I may need to break that confidentially.

Getting there…….