Abstract: Imagine the kind of listening that cultivates openness, trust, and understanding. What impact could the power of listening have on the relationship between speech-language pathologist and caregiver? This presentation and workshop will challenge the speech-language pathologist to examine their role in, and provide tools to navigate through, tough talks.
Description: There is an age-old myth that listening is on or off, like a light switch. This sentiment, however, is false. Listening is a multidimensional phenomenon with layers and filters. The setting, communication partner, internal thoughts and biases are just some of the variables that impact our way of being as an effective listener.
Last year I was privileged to travel to Washington, D.C. to present "Navigate Tough Talks: How to Address the Elephant in the Room - Communicate with Care" at ASHA 2021 and to Ft Worth to present at TSHA 2022 as well. Attendees gave life to an engaging discussion through accounts of tough talks they facilitated and the myriad of parental/caregiver responses/reactions. Other attendees shared their own personal responses to difficult news – how it manifested physiologically inside their bodies and their corresponding emotional response. A unique balance of vulnerability and trust took place over that hour that compelled me to ask a bigger question. What greater professional outcomes are possible if a “Tough Talks Navigation System” were put into practice? I then applied for the ASHA Leadership Development Program and was accepted.
I believe the best way to support children is to support families, childcare educators, and any caregiver charged with raising them. To accomplish this, we must have a framework in place that is both functional and sustainable. I envision creating a structure called "The Tough Talks Navigation System” to be utilized by educators, SLPs, and other professionals charged with delivering hard to hear news. My framework will be devoted to discovering the power of listening, a critical tool in navigating tough talks. This framework will come to life through a combination of short interactive talks, a simple navigating tough talks reflection tool, live mentoring, and feedback sessions.
For implementation and in adherence to time restrictions, this one-hour workshop session will involve listening through role play and utilization of a written reflection tool. ASHA attendees will continue to examine the consistent and dynamic role of tough talks on the relationship between SLP provider and parent/caregiver. Following a larger group interactive refresher and discussion, participants will break into dyads, or groups of three, for role play and hands on listening exercises.
I relish the opportunity to co-create continued education or an initiative for our incredible field in this area. Presenting a workshop at our annual convention will allow participants to (a) continue to refresh our knowledge of our ASHA Code of Ethics and the evidence-based triangle, (b) deepen their practice of “soft skills” that are necessary to support this area of development, and (c) generate data and perspective from practitioners throughout our field. Information gathered from large group discussions, data, and perspectives from fellow speech-language pathologists will provide a rich source for further development of “The Tough Talks Navigation System.”
Mentorship and collaboration are central to my facilitative style. This workshop will provide a fresh and interactive professional learning opportunity that will make the difference and advance our field. Through the power of listening, speech-language pathologists have the potential to be ambassadors for change within families and childrens’ lives.
Presentation Format & Methods: Powerpoint Interactive Conversation/Lecture Small group sharing and active reflective listening practices
Supporting Research: Reference 1: Rautalinko, Erik, et al. “Reflective Listening in Counseling: Effects of Training Time and Evaluator Social Skills.” American Journal of Psychotherapy, vol. 61, no. 2, 2007, pp. 191–209. Crossref, https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.psychotherapy.2007.61.2.191.
Supporting Research: Reference 2: Rogers, C. R., & Farson, R. E. (1957). Active Listening. Chicago, USA University of Chicago. Industrial Relations Center.
Supporting Research: Reference 3: Weger, H., Castle, G. R., & Emmett, M. C. (2010). Active Listening in Peer Interviews: The Influence of Message Paraphrasing on Perceptions of Listening Skill. International Journal of Listening, 24(1), 34-49.
Supporting Research: Reference 4: West, R., & Turner, L. H. (2010). Understanding Interpersonal Communication (Vol. 2nd Edition). Boston, USA: Cengage Learning.
Supporting Research: Reference 5: Patterson, Kerry, et al. Crucial Conversations: Tools for Talking When Stakes Are High. McGraw-Hill, 2012.
Learning Objectives:
Participants will recognize the power of listening, a critical tool to navigate tough talks.
Participants will role-play in order to put listening tools into practice in dyads or small groups.
Participants will analyze their experience as "the listener" through the use of a reflective writing tool.