Home Study: Journaling Techniques for Increasing Client Assertiveness

Title: Journaling Techniques for Increasing Client Assertiveness
Description: Assertiveness – the ability to stand up for one’s self while respecting others – is a trait that many clients struggle to achieve. Many confuse assertiveness with aggressiveness or fear that speaking assertively will appear rude and make others mad. A lack of assertiveness can result in poor relationships, unresolved conflict, stress, anxiety, and depression.
Teaching clients the skills of assertiveness requires that they change their internal dialogue and expectations as much as they change their outward behavior. Journaling can serve as a helpful tool to help clients think more deeply about their communication style and goals. By expressing their feelings first on paper, then sharing them in session, the client is able to practice and gain confidence communicating assertively in a practical way. This course will explain journaling and its benefits and how to use it to teach assertiveness. Specific journaling prompts and exercises are included. The material can be applied in one-on-one and group scenarios.
Author: Susan Fee, M.Ed., Licensed Mental Health Counselor
Continuing education clock hour 1.0: Ohio Social Workers & Counselors, Nurses may use ce hours from other licensure boards