Reflective Listening
By KSU Counseling Services Staff
Preview Points
- Reflective listening helps engage others in relationship building, creating trust, and fostering motivation. It takes skill to do it well.
- Listening breakdowns occur in three places: The speaker does not say what is meant. The listener does not hear correctly. The listener gives a different interpretation to what the words mean.
Contents
THREE LEVELS OF REFLECTIVE LISTENING:
- Repeating or rephrasing—The listener repeats what is said or paraphrases what was said, staying close to what the speaker has said
- Paraphrasing—The listener makes a big restatement.
- Reflection of feeling—The listener emphasizes the emotional aspect of communication.
STEPS TO LISTENING CAREFULLY:
- Focus on feeling words.
- What is the context of the message?
- Observe body language.
- Develop empathy by asking oneself: “If I were having that experience, what would I be feeling?”
- Validate the individual’s thoughts and feelings.
Concluding Points
- Reflective listening enhances a person’s ability to connect with others.
- Reflective listening requires a fair amount of skill and practice.
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