Are you All Ears?: Connecting with Our Clients Through Active Mindful Listening

Speech-language pathology has long valued the importance of listening as a foundation to counsel and connect with clients who stutter. Clinicians must be able to communicate effectively while respecting the needs, values, and cultural/linguistic background of their clients, family members, and caregivers. This experiential session will focus on mindful-active listening as a vital skill for therapists in cultivating client well-being. It will address empathic listening, the psychology behind listening, and practical and functional strategies for therapists to engage in listening to create effective communication between clients, families, and SLPs. Clinical examples provided will emphasize specific concepts.

Participants will be able to:
1 Explain the importance of active and effective listening skills to the profession of speech-language pathology.
2 Explain the importance of active and effective listening skills for client well-being.
3 Discuss strategies of active effective listening skills.

Target Audience: Speech-Language Pathologists, Graduate Students

James Panico, Ph.D., CCC-SLP is an Associate Professor at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville where he teaches courses in stuttering, clinical methods, professional issues, and counseling in addition to clinical supervision. His primary research interests include listener perceptions of stuttering.

Scott Palasik, Ph.D., CCC-SLP is an Associate Professor at the University of Akron. He teaches courses in Stuttering, Counseling, Voice Disorders and supervises graduate students. He researches mindfulness, acceptance and commitment therapy, and social cognitive perceptions with people who stutter. He’s also co-host of the Act To Live Podcast.