SOCI221 - Interpersonal Skills of the Helper - Week 1 Notes

Subject Overview and Learning Outcomes

• Develop and demonstrate client-centered and culturally competent interpersonal skills for effective therapeutic communication.
• Demonstrate the appropriate application of motivational interviewing, solution-focused therapy, and behavior change models in complementary medicine.
• Explain the importance of professional behavior and ethical practice within a clinical setting, including self-awareness and reflective practice.
• Demonstrate an understanding of crisis intervention when working with clients with complex needs.
• Develop skills to establish and maintain personal and professional boundaries, resilience, and self-care strategies.

Session Aims

• Exploration and discussion of reflective practice, including introduction to the Learning Journal.
• The role of reflective practice in healthcare.
• Strategies and models for developing reflective practice.

Socrates

• "An unexamined life is not worth living."

Reflective Practice

• Reflective practice is the deliberate process of thoughtful consideration of experiences and learning, including one's own wellbeing.
• Donald Schon: Reflective practice is "the capacity to reflect on action so as to engage in a process of continuous learning."
• Thinking involves reflective thinking and critical thinking, which are closely connected (Brookfield, 1987).
• Resistance to reflective practice is common.
• Reflective practice is most effective when:
  • Embarked upon with curiosity.
  • There is a willingness to challenge assumptions.
  • There is an openness to changing views, practices, or ideas.

Reflective Thinking

• The thinking process involves various components, as adapted from Mezirow (1990), Schon (1987), and Brookfield (1987).

Reflective Practice vs. Rumination

• Differentiating between reflective practice and rumination is important.

Requirements for Reflective Practice

• Honesty
• Transparency
• Courage
• Openness
• Safety
• Flexibility
• Humanity

Curiosity

• Curiosity is the antidote to the idea that we already have the answer.
• Being curious involves observing human behaviors and interactions, and asking "why" and "what if?"

Asking Questions

• Less powerful questions: Yes/No, Which, Who, When, Where.
• More powerful questions: What, How, Why, What if.

Self-Reflection Tools and Strategies

• Asking general questions (e.g., "how am I feeling right now?").
• Asking structured questions using models like Gibbs' self-reflective model.
• Journaling to reflect on thoughts, experiences, and feelings.
• Feedback from others to gain different perspectives.
• Mindfulness and contemplation.

Reflective Practice Models

• Gibbs' Reflective Cycle (1988)
• Schon's Reflective Model (1991)
• Rolfe et al's Framework for Reflexive Learning
• DIEP

Reflective Practice Models: Gibbs (1988)

• Description, Feelings, Evaluation, Analysis, Conclusion, Action Plan.

Schon’s Reflective Model

• Reflection-in-action and reflection-on-action.

Reflective Practice Models: Rolfe (2001)

• Framework for Reflexive Learning.

Choosing a Reflective Practice Model

• For beginners, Gibbs' model may be best.
• Reflect on a work/school situation and use Gibbs' model to unpack it.
• Use the SOCI221 Week 1 Handout as a guide.

Reflective Journal Activity

• Professional roles in health require trust.
• Consider issues of significance for students in clinical practicums.
• Complete the Self-Assessment in the SOCI221 Learning Journal, page 6.
• Consider additional questions for the assessment.

Self Care

• What is self-care?
• Why is self-care important personally and professionally?
• How to practice self-care?

High Stress Levels - Burnout

• Recognize the signs and implement self-care strategies.

Self Care and Supervision/Mentoring

• Health practitioners witness challenging narratives.
• Recognize when support is needed.
• Consider peer supervision or one-on-one supervision with an experienced supervisor/mentor.

Revision Questions

• Why is reflective practice important?
• What qualities does reflective practice require?
• What was the most useful idea discussed in today’s class?
• What ideas can I put into practice?
• What example or illustration could I relate to the most?
• How does this connect with other subjects?