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Building Family Strengths: |
“The presence of effective communication patterns is one of the most frequently mentioned characteristics of strong families.”
-- Swihart, 1988
Communication is engaging in clear, open, affirming speaking and consistent, empathetic listening, leading to constructive conflict management and problem-solving.
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Strong families communicate easily and well - frequently, openly, clearly, and directly. They do a good deal of sharing of themselves - their feelings, hopes, dreams, fears, joys, sorrows, experiences, growth, and needs. |
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Perhaps the most important communication skill is listening. Active listening is essential to effective family communication and is vital to hearing and being heard in the family unit. |
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People are busy and have many demands to meet. However, it is critical that families find ways to increase the amount of talking they do together and continue to look for ways to improve their communication skills. |
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In strong families, the members may listen to each other. On the other side of the coin, they must express their own wants and needs clearly. A frequent communication error is not making individual wants and needs known clearly. |
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Strong families are not conflict-free. However, the focus is on resolving the issue or solving the problem, with little emphasis on blaming and faultfinding. |
“Once a human being has arrived on this earth, communication is the largest single factor determining what kinds of relationships he makes with others and what happens to him in the world about him.”
-- Virginia Satir
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