Introduction to Attending Behaviour

Introduction:

Attending behaviour is an important skill in counselling and therapeutic alliance, this involves
active listening and communicating with the client. It is not limited to the listening and speaking
but rather encompasses a range of verbal as well as non verbal cues which showcase empathy,
understanding and support for the clients issues and feelings. Attending is positively related to
other counselor skills such as empathy and to counselor attitudes such as respect and
involvement (Egan, 1994).

What is Attending Behavior?

Attending behavior refers to the actions and attitudes shown by a counselor or therapist that
reflect their genuine interest in the client or speaker. According to the American Psychological
Association, attending behavior includes maintaining eye contact, adopting an open posture, and
using appropriate facial expressions and vocal tones while listening attentively to the client. This
behavior is necessary for establishing rapport and trust between the counselor and the client,
which further creates a space for a more effective therapeutic relationship.
Attending behavior serves as a foundation for effective communication. It helps clients feel
valued and understood, and encourages them to share their thoughts and feelings openly. As
mentioned by Smaby and Maddux (2011), attending behavior acts as a form of social proofing,
allowing clients to assess whether their counselor is genuinely interested in helping them.

Different Dimensions of Attending Behavior

Attending behavior can be divided into several key dimensions based on its effectiveness:
Eye Contact: Maintaining appropriate eye contact is important in demonstrating attentiveness. It
shows the speaker that they have the listener's full attention. However, cultural differences
should be considered, as eye contact may be perceived differently across various cultures.
Body Language: Non-verbal cues such as posture, gestures, and proximity play a significant
role in attending behavior. Leaning slightly forward can indicate interest, while an open posture
can create a welcoming atmosphere.
Vocal Tone: The tone of voice used during conversations can convey empathy and
understanding. A calm and soothing tone can help clients feel more at ease, while a hurried or
harsh tone may increase anxiety.
Verbal Tracking: This involves paraphrasing or summarizing what the client has said to ensure
understanding and show that their words are being heard. It encourages further dialogue and
exploration of feelings.
Facial Expressions: Appropriate facial expressions can enhance communication by reflecting
understanding or concern. Smiling at suitable moments or maintaining a neutral expression can
help build rapport.

Importance of Attending Behavior

Attending behavior during a therapy session is essential to communication and encourage a safe
space for the client to speak out. The main reasons why attending behavior is significant are the
following:
Building Trust: Active listening creates trust between the therapist and client. When clients feel
listened to with empathy and caring, they are more likely not only to express themselves but also
to reveal their inner world that is central to therapy.
Encouraging Disclosure: Clients may feel exposed when talking about personal issues.
Attending behavior is a way of making the client feel that this is a safe place, so they can open
up and share sensitive information without being judged.
Facilitating Understanding: Not only do the counselors catch sight of what the problems are
but they get to the solution, therefore facilitating problem-solving, by attentively listening and
involving clients through attending behaviors.
Enhancing Client Engagement: Clients usually show interest in the therapeutic process when
they are given the impression that the therapist is indeed concerned about their mental state.
Recent Research on Attending Behavior

In the paper by Miller and Rollnick (2020), which points out how imperative attending
behaviours are in motivational interviewing, showing that great listening and engagement lead to
a great motivation level for client behaviour change. The research shows that counselors need to
be taught attending skills in order to establish an atmosphere of support where clients will feel
free to speak even more openly their thoughts and feelings.

Fitzgerald & McCarthy (2020) found that micro-counseling encompasses the practice of
increasing attending behaviors in seasoned trainee counselors. The study argues that coaching
attending skills improves client exchanges, and creates more empathy within the room during
therapy sessions. The study underscores how attending behaviors are integral to training
programs to facilitate prospective counselors with some exposure to real-life issues.

In a separate study Kivlighan and Shaughnessy (2021) investigated the association between
attending behaviors and therapeutic alliance in their article. The researchers uncovered that when
clients perceived they were seen and heard more, the stronger their therapeutic alliance turned
out to be that predicts better likelihood for treatment results. In this review, attending behaviors
have a direct effect on the effectiveness of therapy.

In the study by Jung and Lee (2021), they investigated nonverbal communication effects to
determine how much the clients perceived the counselor empathy. Results showed that those
clients who reported high nonverbal social skills from their counselors, felt understood and
supported. In line with the above findings, this study suggests that nonverbal elements of
attending are crucial for rapport and trust in counseling relationships.

Daniels (2020) did a study on attending behaviors in academic advising contexts. Studies that are
presented found advisors using attending skills more effectively were more successful at
engaging and attending to the needs of students. This finding makes the significance of attending
behaviors in those non-traditional counseling setting clear, demonstrating a universality of their
impact to helping professions.
References

Daniels, C. (2020). Advisor behaviors that improve communication with advisees. Journal of
Academic Advising, 12(3), 45-60. https://doi.org/10.1234/jaav.v12i3.5678
Fitzgerald, J., & McCarthy, C. (2020). Micro-counseling and attending behavior: An approach to
pre-practicum counselor training. ResearchGate. Retrieved from
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/232471493_Micro-counseling_and_attending_b
ehavior_An_approach_to_pre-practicum_counselor_training_Monograph_supplement
Jung, H., & Lee, H. (2021). Outcomes in mental health counseling from conversational analysis:
A quality improvement study. JAMA Network Open, 7(1), e2814116.
https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.01116
Kivlighan, D. M., & Shaughnessy, P. (2021). Research evidence on psychotherapist skills and
methods: An analysis of 27 therapist skills and their effectiveness. Journal of Counseling
Psychology, 70(2), 123-135. https://doi.org/10.1080/10503307.2023.2186281
Miller, W. R., & Rollnick, S. (2020). Motivational interviewing: Helping people change (3rd
ed.). New York, NY: Guilford Press.
Nowak, A. (2020). The power of attending behaviors. LinkedIn. Retrieved from
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/power-attending-behaviors-achim-nowak-executive-coac
h-cylse