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7.2 Active listening summarised

A summary of the key aspects of active listening appears in Figure 8 below. Click on each heading to reveal the summaries.

Following skills – (giving the speaker space to tell their story in their own way)

  • Interested ‘door openers’
  • Minimal verbal encouragement
  • Infrequent, timely and considered questions
  • Alternative silences

Reflecting skills – (Restating the feeling and/or content with understanding and acceptance)

  • Paraphrase (check periodically that you’ve understood)
  • Reflect back feelings and content
  • Summarise the major issues
Figure 8 A summary of the three main elements of active listening
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