Fall 2025 SOWK 486w Week 06 - Communication Skills Day 02 - Lab Day

A presentation at Heritage University in September 2025 by Jacob Campbell and is tagged with Heritage University, BASW Program, SOWK 486w

The slide features text discussing 'communication skills,' focusing on conveying empathy and authenticity. Two outlined profiles face each other. Context includes a brown background with informational text about a course.

The image shows a presentation slide divided into two sections. The left lists the 'Week Six Plan' agenda with points on learning and skills. The right outlines 'Learning Objectives,' focusing on empathy and communication.

The slide presents a titled section 'What We Have Been Learning.' On the left, a circular diagram labeled 'Working in Circles' emphasizes respectful, heartfelt communication. On the right, three reflective questions about class takeaways and personal development as a social worker. Title: 'Fall 2025 SOWK 486w' and 'Jacob Campbell, Ph.D.'Text on the diagram:- Respect the talking piece- Speak from the heart- Listen from the heart- Trust that you know what to say- Say just enoughQuestions:- What are some things that you feel like you can take away from this class so far?- What are ways that you are implementing or incorporating things you have been learning in any of your classes into your life?- What do you need to be a better social worker as you progress through your education?

The slide features bold text 'OBSERVATION YOUR CONVERSATIONS LAST WEEK' above binoculars icon, detailing tasks: A. Observe empathic messages in interactions. B. Practice attentive listening and empathic responses, influencing interactions and feelings.

The slide features text discussing a single woman, age 80, expressing fear about moving to an independent living complex, highlighting apprehensions of loneliness and unfamiliarity. It relates to empathic communication practice.

A presentation slide displays discussion text: 'Male, age 16 [in weekly visit to social work probation officer]: 'I don’t see the sense in...every (expletive) week...haven’t been in any trouble...You should know by now you can trust me.'' Context includes course information: 'Fall 2025 SOWK 486w, Communication Skills, Jacob Campbell, Ph.D., LICSW at Heritage University.'

A pair of red sneakers is untied against a dark, textured background. Text on the slide titled 'Teaching Empathy' discusses teaching clients empathetic responding, such as validation and providing positive feedback.

Red sneakers rest on a gray concrete surface. Text beside them reads: 'Work in teams of three or four to design a planned intervention for teaching empathy. What population would you work with? How would you teach them empathy? What would some of the sessions look like? You will have approximately 15 minutes to generate ideas, and then you will share them with the group.' Photo credit: Paulina Milde-Jachowska on Unsplash.

A shopping cart icon sits on the left, while text on the right lists 'Following Skills': Furthering Responses, Reflection Responses, Closed-Ended Responses, Open-Ended Responses, Providing & Maintaining Focus, Summarizing, Seeking Concreteness.

Shopping cart graphic holding words, like 'responses,' is tilted right. Text beside it reads: 'Following Skills: Furthering Responses,' listing 'Nonverbal minimal prompts,' 'Verbal minimal prompts,' 'Accent responses.' Context: educational presentation slide.

A shopping cart releases words like 'empathic responses' and 'concreteness.' Text explains reflection skills: 'Reflection of Content' for cognitive aspects, and 'Reflection of Affect' for emotional connections in client communication.

A young woman stands, looking serious, amidst a group of people indoors. Text reads: 'I am Home,' 'From LaGravenese, R. (2007, January 5). Freedom Writers [Drama]. Paramount Pictures,' 'Communication Skills,' 'Jacob Campbell, Ph.D., LICSW at Heritage University,' 'Fall 2025 SOWK 486w,' '(Hepworth et al, 2023),' 'MOVIECLIPS.COM.'

A shopping cart with words like 'responses' and 'reflections' tilting out. Text includes: 'FOLLOWING SKILLS,' 'Simple Reflections,' 'Complex Reflections,' 'Reframing,' and explanations on reflection techniques in counseling.

Shopping cart carries words 'closed responses,' 'focusing,' 'concreteness,' and 'minimal encouragers' diagonally. Red box reads: 'Define a topic and restrict the client’s response to a few words or a simple yes or no answer.' Top text: 'FOLLOWING SKILLS CLOSED-ENDED RESPONSES.' Bottom text includes 'Fall 2023 SOWK 486w,' 'Communication Skills (Hepworth et al. 2023),' 'Jacob Campbell, Ph.D., LICSW at Heritage University.'

Shopping cart in motion on a white background. Words like 'INVITING RESPONSES' and 'OPEN-ENDED RESPONSES' appear outside the cart. Text box reads: 'Invite expanded expression and leave the client free to express what seems most relevant and important.' Context indicates communication skills.

Shopping cart filled with text, 'OPEN RESPONSES,' 'ADDED CLARITY,' 'CONCRETENESS,' representing ideas. Right side lists: 1. Selecting topics for exploration 2. Exploring topics in depth 3. Managing obstacles to focusing. Titled 'FOLLOWING SKILLS: PROVIDING & MAINTAINING FOCUS.' Context: Presentation slide.

A shopping cart holds various text labels, such as 'Responses' and 'Concreteness.' Nearby, a list outlines summarizing skills: highlighting key aspects, making connections, reviewing focal points, and recapitulating progress.

A shopping cart displays words like 'MINIMAL ENCOURAGERS' and 'PROBES,' suggesting communication strategies. Text lists skills: checking perceptions, clarifying terms, exploring conclusions, and personalizing statements. Context: educational presentation slide on communication skills.

Shopping cart features text 'MINIMAL ENCOURAGES,' 'FOLLOWED RESPONSES,' and 'RELATED RESPONSES'; slide lists 'Eliciting Specific Feelings,' 'Focusing on the Here and Now,' 'Eliciting Details Related to Clients’ Experiences,' 'Eliciting Details Related to Interactional Behavior.'

Shopping cart image on left; text on right titled 'FOLLOWING SKILLS' lists: Furthering Responses, Reflection Responses, Closed-Ended Responses, Open-Ended Responses, Providing & Maintaining Focus, Summarizing, Seeking Concreteness. Context: educational slide.

Slide titled 'Following Skills & Initial Interview' with a table on the left listing activities, a brainstorming prompt at the top right, and three labeled circles for roles: 'SW,' 'Observer,' and 'Client.' Debrief questions are also listed.

Slide with centered text reading 'DEMONSTRATION' and description on left: 'You are a BASW student referred to meet with your field practicum placement adviser to determine your practicum placement for next year.' Footer: course info and instructor's name.

The slide titled 'Role Play Session 1' describes a freshman college student experiencing anxiety and difficulty sleeping. Text explains a clinic referral and feelings of homesickness. A diagram shows roles: 'SW,' 'Client,' and 'Observer.' Footer notes: 'Fall 2025 SOWK 486w,' 'Communication Skills,' and 'Jacob Campbell, Ph.D., LICSW at Heritage University.'

Slide titled 'Role Play Session 2' describes a referral to domestic violence services with feelings of conflict about marriage loyalty. Includes a diagram with circles labeled 'SW,' 'Client,' and 'Observer.'

The image is a presentation slide titled 'ROLE PLAY SESSION 3,' describing a scenario of a homeless person seeking housing options and coping skills. It includes a diagram with labeled circles: 'SW' (green) for social worker, 'CLIENT' (red), and 'OBSERVER' (blue), marked 'Before Interview After.' Footer mentions 'Fall 2025 SOWK 486w Communication Skills' and 'Jacob Campbell, Ph.D., LICSW at Heritage University.'

A shopping cart appears beside text listing skills: 'Furthering Responses, Reflection Responses, Closed-Ended Responses, Open-Ended Responses, Providing & Maintaining Focus, Summarizing, Seeking Concreteness.' Context: Presentation slide on communication skills.

Portrait style photo of Jacob Campbell

Dr. Jacob Campbell

26 slides

Description

The focus of week six for SOWK 486 is continuing our growth and engagement with communication skills. Last week we went deeper on empathy and authenticity. We also started some focus on empathic responding. I share an article Stepien and Baernstein (2006), that provides an overview of how we can teach empathy to clients. Week six is described as a lab day, because the intention is focusing on activities to help develop skills. The activities we will be doing this week include:

Check in about learning so far
Teaching empathy to clients
Following skills and practice implementing them
Sharing following skills

Learning Objectives this week

Reflect on personal experiences with empathic communication
Develop strategies for teaching empathy to clients in diverse practice settings
Apply verbal following skills in a dynamic practice exercise
Deepen your connection with the skills associated with following skills