[humanser] Concerns about nonverbal communication in counseling?

[Merry Schoch]

Hello JD,

Your experience is valuable and I appreciate your participation on the list.  You are truly a gift to me and many others!

Thank you for who you are!

Warmly,
Merry

-----Original Message-----
From: HumanSer [mailto:humanser-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of JD Townsend via HumanSer
Sent: Sunday, January 15, 2017 9:38 PM
To: Human Services Division Mailing List
Cc: JD Townsend
Subject: Re: [humanser] Concerns about nonverbal communication in counseling?

Just for your information, and, perhaps, to present to your agency;  there is little research to support the benefits visual interpretation of body language and some evidence that the sighted incorrectly interpret these visual clues.  This is difficult for the light dependent to understand.

I have been in the field as a working professional from 1980 and only rarely do I feel I have missed such a clue.

One of my patients has worn the same moo-moo for the past year, with no underwear and no hygiene during her monthly cycle.  I don’t know this because of visual evidence, but from discussion.  I don’t know the skin color of my patients, but skin color and racial identification do become a part of our dialogue;  interestingly often many evaluators have determined this information visually and got it wrong.

If you can’t tell when someone is fidgeting, you are not listening.  Often patients believe that I can hear it when they roll their eyes, not due to some extrasensory talent, but listening to silence.

This is a perpetual question in interviews, either said or unsaid;  so, it pays to have a ready answer.  One way is simply to bring up the subject and state that this has not been an issue in other situations and that she will be favorably impressed with your assessment talents.  Provide an example if you like, such as noting that she is wearing heals or sandals.  I might add that on rare occasion you might ask a trusted person in reception about a client’s appearance.

Like most things, your confidence is what will get you over this bump.

JD 


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