Page 57 - cs_u2

thousands of years, humans have used gestures, posture, facial expressions, sounds, and
symbols to communicate thoughts, attitudes, ideas, and emotions.

As nonverbal communication is so important in navigating social situations and
interacting with others and the environment, it stands to reason that nonverbal communication

can be a powerful source of insight in therapy. A counsellor who is sensitive to a person’s
nonverbal expressions as well as the words actually spoken by the person may be better able to
identify when a person’s body language and speech do not match. Alternatively, the counsellor

may learn more from a person’s gestures than from their words. These cues may assist the
counsellor and the person in therapy in identifying and accessing deeper emotional issues that
the person may not be aware of.

Paying attention to a person’s nonverbal gestures of communication and pointing out
potential contradictions between the person’s expressed words and what is conveyed without

words can also assist a person in becoming more aware of how nonverbal communication is
used in personal interactions.

Somatic experiencing therapy, which is used to treat the effects of trauma, takes into account

the patient’s body language and physical responses as the therapist introduces a small amount
of traumatic material. The therapist assesses the individual’s reaction by reading nonverbal
cues.

The therapist in body-mind psychotherapy measures an individual’s breath, sounds, and
movements in order to identify counterproductive behaviours and assists the individual in
developing new ones that have more positive effect.

3.7.1. USING NONVERBAL COMMUNICATION IN AN INTERVIEW

The importance of nonverbal communication in the interview cannot be overstated. It is crucial

to read and analyse your interviewers’ nonverbal cues and respond with suitable body language
throughout. Here are some pointers on how to use nonverbal communication during an

interview:

 Greet the interview panel confidently.
 During the interview, have a natural smile on your face.

52