Practice Skills 1
| Course Code | AMHW-101 |
|---|---|
| Lecture hours per week | 3 |
| Lab hours per week | 3 |
| Course Availability | Open |
| Description | In this course, learners will begin developing some of the essential practice-based skills of the helping relationship, with a specific focus on development of critical consciousness, self-reflexivity and understanding of self in relationship and community; with the goal of improving communication skills to strengthen trust and understanding in relationships. At its core, this course acknowledges that people come from different backgrounds and experiences and express things in a variety of ways. This course stays away from “universal” ideas of good communication, understanding that this approach often erases difference. The concept of a “universal” model also tends to prioritize white, cis, hetero, able-bodied experiences. Instead, firmly grounded in anti-racist, anti-colonial, anti-capitalist, anti-oppression, neuro-diverse and trauma-informed frameworks, learners will develop interpersonal communication, conflict navigation and self-reflection practice skills. Learners will learn skills to deepen attunement and empathy; interrupting “fix it” behavior to meet a person “where they are at”; expand emotional vocabularies, nonverbal cues and responses; explore accountability during times of conflict navigation; practice having “brave conversations”; learn to notice judgments, ethics/values and bias; practice listening, giving attention and responding; becoming aware of needs and boundaries; and explore how systems of oppression and power affects our self-concept, communication and relationships. This is an applied practice-based course, meaning that class time will be a mix of lecture, activity and application/practice of concepts. Attendance is very important. |