The Art of Helping

Listening

The sources of input that we most often rely on in helping are the verbal expressions of the helpees. What people say and how they say it tells us a lot about how they see themselves and the world around them. Ultimately, the helpees’ verbal expressions are the richest source of empathic understanding for the helper.

When we give the helpees our full and undivided attention, we are prepared for listening to their verbal expressions. The more we attend to the external cues presented by the helpees, the more we can listen to the internal cues reflecting their inner experiences. There are many ways that we can develop our listening skills. These include having a reason for listening, suspending our judgment, focusing upon the helpee and ...