Page 70 - Nutrition Counseling and Education Skills: A Guide for Professionals

counselor may understand.

EXAMPLE Mrs. Jones: “I haven’t lost any weight this week. I ate just a few cookies. The diet doesn’t
work.”
Counselor: “You seem to think the diet doesn’t work. I wonder if you could tell me a little more about
that.”

Rather than giving advice, which may be tempting or even an automatic response, this response helps the
person tell her story, and further information can be obtained.

There are many probing techniques, which may be used in addition to secondary or follow-up questions.
They should be nonthreatening, nonjudgmental, and nondirective to avoid leading people to specific answers.
A brief silence may be effective, as may repetition of the last phrase spoken by the client, or a summary
sentence. Probing further in the case of superficial and vague responses, as well as probing for feelings about
events, is suggested in the following paragraphs.

When a more detailed response is desired in the case of superficial answers, the following may be asked:

EXAMPLE “Can you tell me more about that?”
“What do you do next?”
“Please explain a little more about . . .”
“What else?”

To obtain clarification if the answer is vague, you may respond:

EXAMPLE “Could you clarify for me what you meant by. . .?” “I don’t think I quite understand. . .”

Paraphrasing is another technique to ensure that the information is clear and correct. By repeating,
summarizing, or rewording what was said, interviewers show that they are trying to understand.

When the person seems hesitant to go on, the interviewer may remain silent, pausing for the respondent to
gather his or her thoughts and continue. The professional should appear attentive, with perhaps a thoughtful
or expectant look, but should avoid eye contact for the moment. The inexperienced interviewer may find
silence uncomfortable and push on too quickly. If the respondent does not go on within 30 to 60 seconds,
however, he or she may perceive the silence as disinterest or disapproval; the interviewer should commence
before such an impression occurs. See Box 3-3 for other probes.

“Go on.”
“I see.”
“I understand, Mrs. Jones. Please continue.”
“Uh huh.”
“Hmmmm.”
“And next.”

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