Communication Skills 101

Founded by Dr. Randy Dellosa, Life Change Recovery Center (LCRC) is a psychiatric facility and rehabilitation center for people suffering from schizophrenia, depression, addiction, and other unmanageable behaviours. It is located at #105 Scout Rallos Street, Brgy. Sacred Heart, Kamuning, Quezon City.

For further information about LCRC, you may contact 415-7964 or 415-6529. You may also visit www.randydellosa.com

Day 7: December 28, 2009, Monday

Kakabalik lang ni Sir Al from his break nito, so he gathered us agad for meeting early that morning. He asked for updates regarding the previous days na wala siya, especially nung Christmas. Since wala kaming PUPians nun, only Lala and gayle were able to respond. According to Lala, most of the residents were expecting their families to visit, so generally they were excited. Tulad ng sabi ni Sir Al, they will be allowed to spend time with their families, more than the allowed time. Lala mentioned some residents na may bisita while may iilan pa din na wala ata, sadly. Pero yung mas malungkot ay yung nabanggit nila Gayle about sa isang resident, kasi kahit na dumating yung family nya including her child, she was not allowed to meet them personally. That made her cry the whole Christmas daw. :(
Sir Al was surprised with this news, kasi he give permission na to meet and spend time with their families. So he took the responsibility with that. Probabaly there had been miscommunication between the admin and him. So he was to make clarifications with the admin, as well as with the resident regarding that.
Communication indeed is a very essential issue inside the LCRC. Especially when it comes to the residents. When communicating with them, one must it clear or repeat it until maintindihan nila yung gusto mong sabihin sa kanila. At sa LCRC (or kahit saan naman ata), kakambal ng communication ang responsility. One must take responsibility sa bawat sinasabi nila sa mga residents, lalo na siguro kung tungkol yun sa program nila or sa family nila, or kahit sa ano pa, actually.Kaya mahirap siguro talaga maging in-charge sa kanila, yung laging nakikipag-usap sa kanila kasi kailangan mgaing sure ang careful ka sa mga sasabihin sa kanila. Haay. Ang hirap maging Sir Al. tsk.
Sir Al taught us something useful pala na related pa din sa communication. Yun ang "Minimal Prompts." Ito yung "aahhh..", "hhmmm..", na pwedeng isagot sa mga residents sa mga unnecessary conversations. Especially kapag nagpipilit na sila na makipag-kwentuhan sa amin, kasi may mga residents naman na paulit-ulit lang yung mga sinasabi, kinukulit lang kami. So instead na sagutin sila pwede kaming sumagot na "aahh.. (plus yung last two words sa sinabi niya)". instead of these minimal prompts, pwede din kami gumamit ng mga body language or signs lang to stop the unwanted conversation.