Therapist's Guide to Clinical Intervention - Sigmund Freud

DEVELOPING ASSERTIVENESS
1. What do you want (negotiable)?
2. What do you need (non-negotiable)?
3. What are you thinking and feeling that you are not expressing that prevents
you from getting what you want and need?
Learning assertive communication and behavior and using it effectively requires the development
of all aspects of what it means to be assertive. Effective, assertive communication is
like a circle—to be complete all aspects of it must be continuous.
Avoiding passivity,
manipulation, passiveaggression,
aggression
Components of Assertive Communication
(all of the parts must be practiced to be effective)
Nonverbal
assertive behavior
Learning to say
"no"
Recognizing and
expressing your rights
Practicing assertive
communication
and behavior
NONVERBAL ASSERTIVE BEHAVIOR
Becoming aware
of your own
thoughts, feelings,
needs, and wants
1. With square shoulders and good posture, look directly at a person when
talking to them.
2. Maintain personal space and openness (don't cross arms or legs).
3. To express yourself in an effective assertive manner, don't back up or move
from side to side while speaking. Maintain eye contact and be respectful.
4. Remain calm. Do not become emotional. Express yourself appropriately.
Developing Assertiveness 261