Assertiveness for newly qualified speech and language therapists

What is the course about?

This course will give you the opportunity to develop your personal effectiveness by learning and practising some key assertiveness skills that are highly relevant in a range of situations including: attending an interview, working with clients, communicating with your manager/supervisor and contributing to an MDT meeting.

This is a live online course. You will need:
- Internet connection. The classes work best with Chrome.
- A computer with microphone and camera is best (e.g. a PC/laptop/iMac/MacBook), or a tablet/iPad/smart phone/iPhone if you don't have a computer.
- Earphones/headphones/speakers.
We will contact you with joining instructions before your course starts.

What will we cover?

Identification of different behaviour types (assertive, passive, aggressive and indirect aggressive)
What is assertive behaviour?
Your rights as a person
Assertive body language
Key assertiveness skills: making requests (including asking for help), saying no, giving and receiving feedback, saying what you think and feel.

What will I achieve?
By the end of this course you should be able to...

Describe the key characteristics of assertive behaviour
Identify core assertive skills and practise these in a range of situations
Draw on strategies to help you make requests
Draw on strategies to help you say no
Draw on strategies to help you give and receive feedback
Draw on strategies to help you say what you feel.

What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?

To access the course you will need to have an adequate level of English to:
- Express your opinions and feelings
- Follow discussions and make relevant contributions
- Make use of handouts with some assistance if necessary
Before joining the class you will need to speak to one of the Speech Therapy team.

This course is most suitable for recently qualified speech and language therapists who would like to develop their assertiveness skills.

How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?

There will be a large experiential component to the course with a number of skills based practice sessions. There will be some theory input.

Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?

There are no additional costs.

When I've finished, what course can I do next?

You may choose to do further assertiveness skills training either at City Lit or elsewhere. We also offer a number of professional training courses for qualified speech and language therapists on counselling skills, narrative therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy and working with adults who stammer.