ETT™ teaches skills in being present, active listening and active empathy
a unique, interactive training combining theater and psychology
Unlike many boxed communication trainings, ETT™ training is unique because it utilizes elements of theater (e.g. role-play, modeling) to teach participants three primary skills: skills in being present in order to understand needs/wants, and through interactive training, skills in active listening and active empathy to 'get inside another's life' to better understand their viewpoint, and really hear the needs beneath their words.
first, Being presentETT™ teaches participants to identify their own needs and wants (e.g. respect, control). The video clip to the right explains what needs and wants are (e.g. also called emotional objectives); click here to see two ETT™ participants practicing wants and needs).
Becoming aware of and identifying your own needs and wants is important, because research shows that good communication skills require a high level of self-awareness to be able to identify the needs of others. The video to the right explains what needs and wants are. |
Note: the video is best viewed in small rather than large screen. Participants in the video (l to r) include: Marlene Penn, Dr. Kimberly Hoagwood, Dr. Marjorie Heymann (trainer), Clay Watkins, Dr. Serene Olin, and Anne Kuppinger.
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SEcond, Learn active listening skills
In the second step of ETT™ training, participants learn how to actively listen to others. This is done by teaching a set of theatre techniques to be in a space, in a moment, with others. Some of these techniques include (but are not limited to) making and maintaining eye contact, learning how to experience how your own needs affect others (and how their needs affect yours), and practice in getting your needs met. ETT™ training is unique in that participants practice identifying their own needs and learning to identify the wants and the needs of others, allowing them to sharpen their active listening skills.
Next: learn Active empathy skills
ETT™ teaches the final skill set, active empathy, through role-play and modeling. Participants get to observe or practice being in the lives of 16 or more characters as they use the skills learned in being present and active listening to step 'inside the shoes' of another's life.' Consider this: most of us reading this page haven't lived the life of a child in many years, and many have not been a parent, teacher, or doctor. This active empathy training allows participants to experience many different types of 'lives' and experience their needs.
Final Role PlAY: using all the ett™ skills to become a better communicator
During this last component of training, participants practice their real-life roles, whether they are medical professionals, teachers, or parents, using all of the skills learned above. In this final step, participants experience how they have grown in their ability to become caring and effective communicators.