Active listening
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Grand Canyon University *
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550
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Communications
Date
Jan 9, 2024
Type
docx
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2
Uploaded by PrivateGorilla12640
Compare examples of professional communication with various levels of service you've seen at your field placement agency. Explain the importance of professional communication and cultural competency regarding communication styles in social work.
Active listening, reflecting, questioning, paying attention to nonverbal cues, and summarizing is key when working with individuals and families. Mezzo-level communication focuses on how you use your skills in treatment or task groups. In groups, you practice active listening but may reflect differently than with an individual client (Larkin, 2018). With one-on-one contacts, the client is addressed directly. When running a group, you may reflect what a member said but apply it to the whole group and make it more general. This is deliberate and
reflects group work versus individual work goals and structure. Your reflecting-back statement may prompt a group member to respond, showing that reflecting-back can vary by task (Larkin, 2018). How we use our foundational communication skills when facilitating or participating in a task group depends on its composition and goals.
As an intern at a mental health facility, I have witnessed the interactions between the patients and the different healthcare professionals, including nurses, doctors, and social workers. I have observed that certain doctors possess a concise and direct communication style, characterized by a clear and precise tone, as well as an extensive knowledge of clinical terminology. In addition to being more sympathetic, social workers are good listeners, use a gentle voice, maintain a constant smile, and give patients the space they need to speak up for
themselves. I noticed that the nurses display a high level of assurance in their communication. They demonstrate a high level of competence and consistently possess a vast knowledge of medications and nursing-related questions.
People who need social services have different cultural backgrounds, and social workers need to be aware of these differences. Social workers who exhibit cultural competence make it a priority to learn about the cultures of the people they serve and to provide support to them in a manner that is respectful and sensitive to their cultural backgrounds (Larkin, 2018).
Communication in a professional setting and cultural competence are two skills that are necessary for social workers. The ability to communicate effectively enables social workers to establish rapport with clients and other stakeholders, while cultural competency enables social workers to comprehend the cultural differences of individuals who need social services and to provide support to these individuals with cultural sensitivity and respect (Larkin, 2018).
References
Larkin, S. J. (2018). A field guide for social workers: Applying your generalist training. Sage. ISBN-13: 9781506379241
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