Communication and Counselling Skills

Volunteers working with inmates will need well developed interpersonal communication skills. These skills can be learned if you put in the necessary time, effort and practice.

The Helping Relationship

The primary purpose of the helping relationship is to help clients in their growth and development. The relationship is built on mutual respect and trust. Certain skills are required in order to develop a positive helping relationship with inmates.

The common characteristics of effective counsellors are:

1. Empathy
2. Respect/Acceptance/Warmth
3. Genuineness
4. Concreteness
5. Immediacy
6. Stability
7. Objectivity

Facilitation Skills

Attending

This is a demonstration of the counsellor's concern through eye contact, body language, voice, tone and expression, and staying on topic.

Conveying an Open Invitation to Talk

The only way to understand a client is to listen, minimize interruptions, minimize judgemental responses and keep responses short.

Paraphrasing

Repeat what the client has said in your own words, so that he is assured that the intent of the message has been communicated.

Communication

Conditions for Effective Communication

• Awareness of self and other.
• Flexibility in sending messages.
• Verbal and non-verbal skills development.

Necessary Assumptions about Communication

• Communication is ongoing.
• All communication has content and a relational message.
• Meaning in communication is a matter of interpretation.

Components of the Communication Process

• Self
• Other
• Environment

Necessary Skills

• Attending/Listening
• Responding/Feedback