Active Listening:
An Interactive Learning Experience


ANDY
Andy is a 16 year old male attending a local high school. He has just moved to the area recently and has has trouble making new friends. Formerly he had been active in neighborhood sports, but has not participated in any such activities since he moved here. He has been smoking pot with two acquaintances he met at the park and he hasn't been doing well in school. His mother a single parent has talked him into visiting the high school guidance counselor.

He starts the visit with the guidance counselor by saying: "My mother asked me to come here because I haven't been doing well in school. She thinks I need to get better focused and get on the right track again"

Select your Active Listening response from the 3 given below.

Don't you like school?
You are feeling concerned because your mother wants the best for you.
You probably need to start studying more.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ANDY
Your response was: "Don't you like school?"

This response does not use the skill of Active Listening

This will probably lead to a short reply and is not likely to get him to open up


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ANDY
Your response was: "You probably need to start studying more."

This response does not use the skill of Active Listening

This response does not recognize Andy's feelings and does not lead in the direction of letting him figure out what he needs to do.


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ANDY
CONGRATULATIONS
Your response was: "You are feeling concerned because your mother wants the best for you."

The counselor sensed the respect and love Andy has for his mother and reflected that back to him.


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