Reflection paper 3: Learning to be a Listener

For this assignment, you will complete the online training to be a Listener for 7 Cups (www.7cups.com (Links to an external site.)), an online emotional support platform. Through this training, you will learn basic psychotherapy techniques including how to make reflections, label emotions, ask open-ended questions, and make empathic statements. You will engage in a Practice Chat as part of the training. You are NOT required to complete a real chat (with a live person) as part of this assignment; you are only required to complete the training. This assignment provides the opportunity to experience the role of a therapist and how to utilize common treatment factors. 

Complete the Active Listening training course at: https://www.7cups.com/listener/become-a-volunteer-listener.php (Links to an external site.)

Then answer the following questions:

1) Technique 1: Describe one of the techniques you learned during the training (making reflections, labeling emotions, using open-ended questions, making empathic statements, identifying strengths, giving advice, ending a chat). Why is this technique important to use in a therapeutic setting? Provide an example of a good strategy when using this technique. Provide an example of a bad strategy when using this technique. Feel free to demonstrate these examples in a dialogue format.

2) Technique 2: Describe a second technique you learned during the training (making reflections, labeling emotions, using open-ended questions, making empathic statements, identifying strengths, giving advice, ending a chat). Why is this technique important to use in a therapeutic setting? Provide an example of a good strategy when using this technique. Provide an example of a bad strategy when using this technique. Feel free to demonstrate these examples in a dialogue format.

3) Personal Experience:  What was it like engaging in the Practice Chat?  What do you think it would be like to do this with a live person on the other end? What concerns would you have?  What do you think is one pro AND one con of providing emotional support using a text-based platform like 7 cups versus providing in-person support? How do you think you could use the skills you learned in your day-to-day life? What would you do differently? 

For all papers, use the following guidelines:

• Length: 400-600 words. 2 points will be deducted if the paper is fewer than 400 words.
• Formatting:All assignments should be double spaced, with 1” margins all around, Times New Roman 12-point font, and no extra spaces between paragraphs. We prefer uploaded assignments to be in .doc, .docx, or .pdf format.  
• Headings: Please include headings in your paper for each of the grading rubric sections (Technique 1, Technique 2, Personal Experience)
• Academic Writing:You will be graded on your use of proper grammar, sentence structure, etc., and you should avoid using profanity or slang.
• Due Date: Assignments are due to the Canvas dropbox by 10:00pm on the day they are due. For each paper, you will lose 5 points for every day it is late, even if it is only a few minutes past the deadline. Papers will no longer be accepted 10 days after the due date.