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Communication Skills

Communication is a core skill that is required at all levels of a psychologist’s work. You must be able to demonstrate communication skills – verbal, nonverbal and written skills - that result in effective information exchange and teaming with clients, their families and your team members. Psychologists are expected to:

• Communicate clearly and effectively with clients

• Demonstrate descriptive, understandable command of language, both written and verbal

• Use appropriate professional language when dialoguing with other healthcare professionals

• Use effective listening skills to facilitate relationships

• Show respect and empathy towards clients, their families and your colleagues in all areas of communication and interaction

Communication skills can be taught, learned and enhanced. Here are some ideas and resources to spark your learning and thinking: 

HOW TO WRITE

“Good writing is not a natural gift. You have to learn to write well.” – David Oglivy, frequently referred to as ‘the father of advertising’ or as ‘the original Mad Man’.

In a 1982 memo Ogilvy sent to all of his agency’s employees, he provided 10 tips on writing well. We find the tips evergreen and as relevant today as it was in 1982. We have picked out the top 5 tips for you to consider, modified to your role as a psychologist when writing reports and even emails:

1. Write the way you talk. Naturally.

2. Use short words, short sentences and short paragraphs.

3. Never use psychological jargon like achieved deficiencies in, engages in negative attention getting, motivationally deficient.

4. If it is something important, get a colleague to improve it.

5. Before you send your report or email, make sure it is crystal clear what you want the recipient to do.

Adapted from https://www.aerogrammestudio.com/2017/12/20/10-tips-from-david-ogilvy/

How to Write

For a more comprehensive read on Report Writing, we recommend Assessment of Children: Cognitive Foundations by Jerome M. Sattler, Chapter 19 Report Writing.  In this book, Sattler sets out 21 Principles designed to help you write reports. The principles cover how to organize, interpret and present the assessment findings. Exercises are included to help your understanding of the principles.

How to Speak, How to Listen

In How to Speak How to Listen, intellectual, philosopher, and academic Mortimer J. Adler explains the fundamental principles of communicating through speech, with sections on such specialized presentations as the sales talk, the lecture, and question-and-answer sessions and advice on effective listening and learning by discussion.

HOW TO LISTEN ACTIVELY

Active listening brings people closer, builds trust, and helps people to open up. Here are 5 steps on how to do it:

How to speak so that people want to listen

Have you ever felt like you're talking, but nobody is listening? Here's Julian Treasure to help. In this useful 10-minutes talk, the sound expert share the seven deadly sins of speaking and demonstrates the how-to's of powerful speaking — from some handy vocal exercises to tips on how to speak with empathy.

How to practice reflective listening

Here’s a 2 minutes clip on what reflective listening looks like.

EXPLORE WITH YOUR SUPERVISOr

1. Role play with feedback

2. Live observation with feedback

3. Simulation

4. Role modelling

5. Video or audio recording with feedback

EXPLORE WITH YOUR TEAM

1. Group discussion of cases

2. Self-reflection in small group

3. Live observation with feedback

SELF LEARNING

1. Workshops

2. Keeping journals

3. Articles, short videos, webinars