Social Communication Difficulties
An increasing number of clients are seeking help with problems with social communication. These clients often have an Autistic Spectrum Disorder such as Asperger’s Syndrome or be suffering from a Social Phobia or Social Anxiety Disorder.
Autisitc clients may have difficulty organising their thoughts and verbalising ideas. These clients often need considerable work on their facial expression, eye contact and body language before speech is even considered. When we move on to tackling their speech the two main areas for concern are often expression in the voice and content of the utterances. “I don’t know what to say!” is a frequent complaint of these clients, as well as those with mild forms of aphasia.
Social Anxiety Disorder Sufferers typically experience hightened feelings of anxiety in a variety of social situations. They frequently experience physical reactions such as shaking, shallow breathing, sweating, flushing and a rapid heart beat. Sufferers often experience panic attacks and tend to be very self-conscious and constantly worry that other people are judging them. Self censoring and fear of saying the wrong thing feature very high on the list of anxieties. Many sufferers come to avoid the situations that cause them anxiety or become very inhibited in situations and often retreat from normal, everyday life. The condition can be extremely disabling.
In our sessions we cover the whole range of practical skills needed to function normally and overcome these anxieties. We look at body language, facial expression and eye contact, together with breathing exercises to reduce the feelings of panic. Conversation practice, how to keep a dialogue going, appropriate responses and overcoming fears of inadequacy are all covered. Using video the client learns to be objective about their behaviour in converstaions, and to understand that they can participate in social situations. Clients are set managable tasks that enable them to re-integrate into normal life.
Clients who present with any form of social communication difficulty can be assured of understanding and support as we work through the many areas of voice, speech, verbal and non-verbal communication that they may need to work on. As they put the techniques into practice they become more confident and less isolated and their quality of life can improve dramatically.
