Becoming a star communicator
Claire Moran , Angela Lee and Dr Anne Killett look at developing occupational therapy learners ’ communication skills .
T he Communication Star is a dynamic and innovative learning and assessment tool , originally devised for use with occupational therapy students , designed and delivered by occupational therapy lecturers Claire Moran , Angela Lee and Dr Anne Killett at the University of East Anglia ( UEA ).
This learning tool was developed to aid students in the understanding and acquisition of effective communication skills , in an accessible and engaging way . It was first developed in 2019 , alongside the addition of a series of communication skills training sessions and is currently undergoing evaluation .
Therapeutic use of self is a core process of occupational therapy ( Creek 2003 ) and communication skills are an essential element in developing the therapeutic relationship ( Popova and Taylor 2020 ).
Occupational therapists are tasked with building trust and rapport with clients swiftly , often during challenging moments . Taylor et al ( 2009 ) conducted a survey of 1,000 occupational therapists and found that , although practitioners all placed a high value on therapeutic use of self ,
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