Wellness: Healthy Communication

Communication is the act of giving, receiving, and sharing information - in other words, talking or writing, and listening or reading.

Source: Common Sense Media

Active listening is making a conscious effort to hear not only the words that another person is saying but, more importantly, the complete message being communicated.  

To engage in active listening: 

• make purposeful eye contact
• Minimize distractions i.e. put your technology away, avoid side conversations
• Don't be thinking of the next thing you're going to say or formulate counter arguments
• Use body language such as head nodding and verbal cues such as "uh huh" to communicate you are listening

Reflective listening involves mirroring and clarifying what you have heard.  This allows the communicator to feel heard and have reassurance that what they have communicated has been clearly comprehended by the listener.

To engage in reflective listening: 

• Reflect on what you heard and clarify with follow-up questions to be sure you understand i.e. "What I'm hearing is..." , "Sounds like you are saying...",  "What do you mean when you say...", and  "Is this what you mean?"

Healthy Communication is the ability to convey or share emotions, feelings, sentiments, and desires both verbal and nonverbally without offering hateful or undesirable responses. Healthy communication acknowledges that we have a right to “agree to disagree”.

Source: CCPA