Interpersonal Skills Training for Human Service Professionals (February 21 to April 20, 2012)

CENTRE FOR LIFELONG LEARNING Tata Institute of Social Sciences PO Box 8313, Deonar, Mumbai 400088 ANUBHAV An Interpersonal Skills Training for Human Service Professionals (February 21 to April 20, 2012) About the Programme All people need to use interpersonal skills in the course of every day living to be able to experience enriching lives. The territory is already familiar. The range of what constitutes interpersonal skills is vast. A short list of such skills would include at least the following: counselling, group membership skills, assertiveness, social skills, interviewing skills of various sorts, writing skills, using the telephone and group facilitation skills. Examples of how such skills are used in a range of settings are also numerous and would include the following among many others: Counselling skills: counselling colleagues, friends, clients and customers; Assertiveness skills: returning faulty goods, saying ‘no’, keeping to contracts and agreements; Social skills: introducing yourself, attending meetings, working with the general public, with customers and clients; Facilitation skills: running meetings and groups, chairing discussions and organizing planning meetings. All professional people need and use a variety of interpersonal skills in every aspect of their work. The difficult thing, however, is to teach these skills to other people. Very often, they are learned through the process known as ‘setting with Nellie’; the new professional is supposed to pick up various skills through observing older and more experienced colleagues at work. The problem arises when those colleagues demonstrate that they do not have particular interpersonal skills! Arguably, this situation has arisen because those colleagues were given no formal training either and so the cycle of events is continued. However, skills alone will not suffice. Behind and alongside the practice of interpersonal skills must be a set of values, a series of attitudes, all of which contribute to the ‘human’ element of interpersonal behaviour. We cannot afford to train ourselves and others in a range of skills alone. While the skills are being used, there must be a reflection of the human being that lies behind them. In fact it can be stated more strongly: the interpersonally skilled person is one who demonstrates humane, caring qualities. A basic cluster of such necessary qualities may be identified as: warmth, genuineness, empathy, and unconditional positive regard (Rogers 1967). Interpersonal Skills Training as an enabling and resilience-building process has tremendous significance in the context of the modern day world. In this nexus, the existing geo-socio-cultural situation and subsequent changes occurring in and around us have implications on the day-to-day functioning of individuals. Consequently, human relationships and life patterns are becoming increasingly complex and challenging. As a result, pressures and demands of living place tremendous strain on our ability to cope effectively. Incidences of stress-related breakdowns are on the rise. Thus, Interpersonal Skills Training as a helping tool to aid individuals to deal effectively with adversities is gaining momentum. Application of Interpersonal Skills Training is becoming a central feature of the work of all human service professionals. In fact, a heavy demand is placed on such professionals in different settings (health, education, welfare, industrial and so on) to be effective in their interpersonal relationships at the work place. Additionally, administrators and managers of programmes/schemes also are resorting to training in interpersonal effectiveness at different levels in their organizations. As a result, such training is imperative for enhancing quality of the work etc. In response to this training need, the Centre for Lifelong Learning proposes to offer a short term programme in “Interpersonal Skills Training for Human Service Professionals”. This programme offers grounding in practical interpersonal skills training. Additionally, participants of the programme will be facilitated to explore their personal qualities, develop appropriate qualities for interpersonal effectiveness and identify directions for their self-growth and development. Hence, it will be beneficial for any one working in a caring/helping profession and also to those in a managerial/supervisory professional role. Objectives of the Programme After completing the Course, the learners would be able to: Explore and develop the essential qualities for enhanced personal and professional development Understand the importance, nature and types of Interpersonal Skills: counselling and interviewing, communication and assertiveness, exploration and effective management of emotions, problem solving, facilitation and social skills Develop competencies for interpersonal effectiveness Programme Content I. Interpersonal Skills Training Importance and meaning of Interpersonal Skills. Scope and types of Interpersonal Skills. Personal qualities essential for interpersonal effectiveness II. Practice Skills Inter-personal Communication Counselling : Nature, Scope, Types and Models of Counselling: Psycho-analytic, Behavioural, Gestalt, Humanistic, RET and Egan’s Model of Helping Counselling Plan and Process Skills for supportive counselling early identification of problems and timely referrals Creative arts as facilitative tools in counselling (dance and movement, dramatics and storytelling, art, recreation and games) Exploration and Management of Emotions Problem Solving and Conflict Resolution. Assertiveness Training Group Facilitation Skills III. Personal and Professional Growth Developing proficiency in practicing Interpersonal Skills Effective coping, stress management and self-renewal Ethical responsibilities and issues Self-awareness in the context of thoughts, feelings, behaviour towards becoming an effective professional Programme Details Mode Part-time Evening Programme (Monday – Friday : 6.00 p.m. – 9.00 p.m.) Location TISS Duration 21st. February to 20th April, 2012 Medium of Instruction English Programme Fee Rs.5000/- Eligibility Requirement Graduate in any discipline with minimum two years of experience in any helping/teaching profession Selection Procedure Applications will be screened to ascertain one’s suitability. If required, candidates will be called for an interview. Contact Person Ms. Sabiha Vasi Assistant Professor & Programme Coordinator Centre for Lifelong Learning Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Deonar, Mumbai – 400 088. Tel. 25525682 / 25525681/ 25525000 Email: sabiha_v @tiss.edu, bhargavi@tiss.edu Application Forms Available with the Centre’s Secretary from 10.30 a.m. – 05.00 p.m. (Monday – Friday) Last Date for Receipt for Applications 16th February, 2012 The Application Form and further information can be obtained from the Centre for Lifelong Learning, Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Deonar, Mumbai – 400 088. Tel.: 25525681 (Ms. Sabiha Vasi); 25525682 (Ms. Bhargavi). Also the Application Form may be downloaded from the TISS website: www.tiss.edu The registration fee may be paid by Demand Draft in favour of TATA INSTITUTE OF SOCIAL SCIENCES payable at Mumbai or by Cash.