Assertiveness

Assertiveness Training in Clinical Practice

The function of much of therapy is to put clients firmly in charge of their own lives – but if they can’t be assertive, their lives are not truly their own. Assertiveness training is one of the core components of cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) and related therapies, but its implementation is rarely taught in clinical programs.

This structured interactive course is designed to fill that gap. Based in part on the ideas in the presenter’s own category-leading guide (The Assertiveness Workbook), the course provides clinicians with the concepts and tools to provide assertive communication skills training to clients one-to-one, whether as an intervention on its own or as part of a broader treatment plan.

Tips for adapting the training to a structured interactive group format are also provided, with clear session-by-session breakdowns programs of 8 to 12 sessions.

The course is founded on the key principle underlying all assertive behavior: Assertiveness is about controlling our own actions, not the actions of others. By changing our own steps in the dance of communication, we can change the interaction.

Learning Objectives

Participants will learn:

1. To identify the four basic communication styles in action – and teach this recognition to clients.

2. To explore with clients the barriers (personal and interactional) that prevent them from using assertiveness skills more effectively.

3. To train clients in the skills involved in assertive communication in eight types of interaction (providing opinions, receiving compliments, giving positive feedback, receiving criticism, providing corrective feedback, setting boundaries / saying no, making requests, and handling conflict).

4. To make use of provided exercise handouts with clients to enhance knowledge and skill transfer.

5. To use specific experiential training skills in session with clients, including modeling, rehearsal, role reversal, and shaping).