SK224
Communication and Interviewing Skills
0.5 Credit

This course will assist second year students in developing their social work communication, interviewing, assessment, and goal setting skills. This course is structured as a practice lab, meaning that students will apply knowledge through ongoing participation in reflexive activities, discussions, and experiential learning. A key activity embedded in the course is simulation-based learning: an innovative method of learning direct practice skills by engaging in, observing, and debriefing role plays, which are based on social work scenarios with standardized clients. These learning activities will support students in establishing comfort with and confidence in professional relationship building while providing foundational knowledge and hands-on training in preparation for their third-year field placements and direct practice courses. Given the transition to virtual counselling in response to the pandemic, the course will also address communication and interviewing skills for online social work practice.