PUB TYPE Reports- Descriptive (141)

Counseling skills can be taught to high school students who enter inner-city peer counselor training programs with few of the interpersonal communication skills that are essential to effective counseling, by using an incremental approach that includes intensive practice. The following skills can be introduced and demonstrated incrementally by the teacher: (1) interested-behavior skills, including eye contact and body language; (2) questioning skills, including the use of open-ended questions to retrieve and develop basic information, and avoidance of an interview approach; (3) feedback skills, including reflective listening; (4) appropriate communication skills for use with adults, peers, and young children; and (5) general counseling skills, including giving feedback, clarifying problems, identifying and selecting options, and teaching problem resolution. Each new skill can then be practiced in role playing sessions in which a student takes the part of the counselor and the instructor takes the part of the counselee. As student proficiency increases, the skills can be practiced in a "fish bowl" session in which students assume the parts of counselor and counselee and the rest of the class observes and assists the counselor in dealing with a real-life concern of the counselee. A list of 10 references is appended. (MN) *************ft***********A***************P***************w******0±***** * Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made * * from the original document. * *********************************************7.************************