Can you hear me now? Teaching listening skills.

Topic: This column provides an overview of methods for training to improve service provider active listening and reflective responding skills.

Purpose: Basic skills in active listening and reflective responding allow service providers to gather information about and explore the needs, desires, concerns, and preference of people using their services-activities that are of critical importance if services are to be truly person-centered and person-driven.

Sources Used: Sources include the personal experience of the authors as well as published literature on the value of basic counseling skills and best practices in training on listening and other related soft skills.