RELATIONSHIP SKILLS RATING SCALE (5) All of the time (4) Most of the time (3) Sometimes (2) Rarely (1) Never Self-Awareness

----I am in touch with my inner feelings.

----I am comfortable with myself.

----I am aware of my fears, anxieties, and unresolved conflicts.

Self-Disclosure

----I express my feelings honestly and clearly.

----I am concise and expressive in my communications.

----I am open in sharing what I think and feel.

Active Listening

----I can focus intently on what others are saying and recall the essence of their communications.

----I show attention and interest when I listen.

----I am able to resist internal and external distractions that may impede my concentration.

Responding

----I am perceived by others as safe to talk to.

----I can demonstrate my understanding of what I hear.

----I reflect accurately other people's underlying thoughts and feelings.

----Initiating I have the ability to put people at ease.

----I am able to get people to open up.

----I am smooth and natural in facilitating the flow of conversation.

Attitudes

----I am nonjudgmental and accepting of other people, even when they have different values and opinions than I do.

----I am trustworthy and respectful of other people.

----I am caring and compassionate.

Many people gravitate towards the helping professions because they have a desire to make a meaningful difference in the lives of those who are suffering. Perhaps they are drawn to this work because they want to heal themselves, or because they benefited from counseling or therapy. Friends and family members may have told them that they are good listeners who offer sound advice. Clearly, the motives and reasons for entering the helping professions may be as varied as the number of helpers! Regardless of what is fueling their desire, helpers must acquire the knowledge and develop the skills, attitudes, and self-awareness to be helpful. Although this may seem unnecessary to state, despite good intentions, counselor and social work trainees sometimes fall into the trap of engaging in behaviors that actually are not helpful. Through the process of training, they must challenge themselves to differentiate between effective and ineffective practices in order to hone their clinical judgment and develop competence.

Written Assignment:

• Complete the Relationship Skills Rating Scale Quiz
• give a summarize response to this scale quiz and discuss what you have learned about your own relationship skills and accepting clients.

Discuss these

• What are your relationship strengths?
• Which areas do you see that need improvement according to the scale?
• What might you do to improve this skill?

Please provide references and in text citations