Practicing Attending Skills

These vocabulary flashcards cover the definitions, categories, and specific behaviors associated with the concept of 'Attending' as described in the lecture notes.

Attending

The act of truly focusing on the other person by consciously making oneself aware of what they are saying and trying to communicate.

The Three V’s and a B

The four traditional categories of attending: Visual (Eye Contact), Vocal Quality (Tone and Speech Rate), Verbal Tracking (Staying on the Client's Topic), and Body Language.

Verbal Tracking

Involves pacing the client by sticking closely with their speech content, volume, and tone while only restating or summarizing without interpreting.

Vocal Quality

A component of attending that refers to the tone and speech rate used during communication.

Mirroring

Synchronicity between the provider and the client’s movements where movements and verbal behavior are in synch with one another.

Proximity

A non-verbal communication factor in attending, suggesting one should sit approximately one arm’s length away from the client.

Environment

The arrangement of furniture to draw people together rather than create barriers, such as avoiding placing large tables or desks between the provider and client.

Social Emotional Presence

A level of attending comprised of four core elements: Acceptance, Warmth, Genuineness, and Empathy.

Visual (Eye Contact)

Showing interest by looking at a person naturally; excessive intensity may be perceived as staring and make the person uncomfortable.

Negative Attending Behavior

Actions such as crossing arms over the chest, leaning back, turning more than 45 degrees away, or making infrequent eye contact.