10. Assessing Eye Contact Cues to Increase Effectiveness of Interventions

Connection Therapy

Effective communication is at the heart of successful interactions, whether you are a therapist, teacher, or anyone aiming to improve their relational skills. One often overlooked yet vital aspect of communication is eye contact. Understanding and recognizing eye contact patterns can significantly enhance your ability to connect with others, particularly in a therapeutic setting.

For mental health providers, observing eye contact is not just about noticing where someone is looking, it's about understanding what their gaze patterns reveal about their need for support and connection.

In today’s episode Brenda helps listeners in recognizing these patterns to help you to tailor your interventions more effectively.

Intervening at the right time is crucial for effective communication and support. Here are some guidelines on when to intervene based on eye contact:

1. Unexpected Situations: During unexpected or challenging situations, observe if the person looks to you for reassurance. This is an opportune moment to intervene, as it shows they trust you to help them navigate the situation.
2. During Distress: If you notice increased blink rates or downward gazes, it may indicate that the person is experiencing stress or discomfort.

To raise the effectiveness of your interventions, start by observing and responding to eye contact patterns. This approach helps you to gauge the emotional state of your patients to build stronger connections, and tailor your interventions appropriately.

Recognizing and understanding eye contact patterns can significantly enhance your ability to communicate and intervene effectively. By building trust, observing cues, and timing your interventions appropriately, you can support your patients more effectively, leading to better outcomes in your interactions.

Connect with Brenda with the link below

www.connectiontherapypodcast.com

References Mentioned in this Episode:

Mott, R., Hawthorne, S., & McBride, S. (2020). “Blink rate as a measure of stress and attention in the domestic horse (Equus caballus).” Sci Rep 10, 21409. doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-78386-z

Brenda Murrow, (2013) A Quantitative exploration into the effects of the human and animal connection. (Doctoral dissertation). Pacifica Graduate Institute.

Stephen Porges (2011). Polyvagal Theory: Neurophysiological Foundations of Emotions, Attachment, Communication, and Self-regulation.

Dan Siegel, https://drdansiegel.com/

Smith AV, Proops L, Grounds K, Wathan J, McComb K. (2016) “Functionally relevant responses to human facial expressions of emotion in the domestic horse (Equus caballus)”. Biol Lett. Feb;12(2):20150907. doi: 10.1098/rsbl.2015.0907