Improving Communication Improving Lives Implementing a Talking Mats

Improving Communication, Improving Lives Implementing a Talking Mats Approach Session 2 One of the most interesting and valuable courses I have been on - Occupational Therapist Creating mats concentrated thoughts in interesting and challenging ways -Teacher ©Talking Mats Ltd. 2020 Very useable tool that can be adapted for both assessments and therapy - Speech and Language Therapist Very useful tool to communicate at a deeper level than could be achieved by talking or questionnaires - Social Worker www. talkingmats. com

Improving Communication, Improving Lives Session 2 - Welcome back Introduction to session 2 · How was it for you? A Talking Mats Talking Mat! o Group Discussion � · Individual Videos - ‘I Really Liked’ Sheet · Feedback learning to wider group · Digital Talking Mats · Using Talking Mats creatively—submats · Keeping Up to date and Keeping in touch ©Talking Mats Ltd. 2020 www. talkingmats. com

Talking Mats Process Improving Communication, Improving Lives 1 Introduction Make sure the purpose of the mat is clear. E. g. “We are going to do a Talking Mat to find out what you think about…………” 2 Be clear about the top scale Choose your Top Scale depending on what it is you want to find out. e. g. Happy. . unsure…. Not happy Managing …managing a bit…. . not managing 3 Hand over control Position mat in front of the thinker Hand over each symbol to the thinker Stay neutral 4 Ask open questions Use the lead in phrase… “How do you feel about ……. . ” Allow time for Thinker to respond. Be alert to non verbal communication. 5 Use blanks to personalise “Is there anything else? ” Be responsive and flexible. Use the blanks to capture unique information 6 Review Check you have understood the thinker and summarise. Start with the negative and move to the positive. Give time to change 7 Record & agree action points ©Talking Mats Ltd. 2019 Allow issues to emerge Agree who information can be shared with. Support the Thinker to decide next steps or identify areas to sub www. talkingmats. com mat

Improving Communication, Improving Lives Feedback I really liked ……. . It would be better if …. . . I’m curious to know why ……. ©Talking Mats Ltd. 2020 www. talkingmats. com

Improving Communication, Improving Lives Making up your own mats / sub-mats • What are you trying to find out ? ? ? • Planning is crucial • Think through and discuss topic with others • Keep asking yourself • What are you trying to find out ? ? ? ©Talking Mats Ltd. 2020 www. talkingmats. com

Improving Communication, Improving Lives Example • Joe attends a day centre. He has a learning disability and autism. • He appears to enjoy the activities in the centre • Recently he has been reluctant to get in the taxi both to go the centre and to return home • You want to find out how he feels about going in the taxi. ©Talking Mats Ltd. 2020 www. talkingmats. com

Improving Communication, Improving Lives Activity - planning your own mat • • Choose something you want to find out about Decide on your top scale Mind map your options Decide on your starting point Think about the language demands Think about the symbols you will need Remember your open question: How do you feel about…. . ? or What do you think about. . . ? ©Talking Mats Ltd. 2020 www. talkingmats. com

Improving Communication, Improving Lives A final thought ‘The greatest problem with communication is that we don’t listen to understand, we listen to reply’ ©Talking Mats Ltd. 2020 www. talkingmats. com

Improving Communication, Improving Lives Keeping in touch • Free stuff: http: //www. talkingmats. com/research-consultancy/freestuff-communication-disability/ • Blog: http: //www. talkingmats. com/category/blog/ • Research and consultancy: http: //www. talkingmats. com/researchconsultancy/ • Further training: Accredited training and specialist seminars Talking Mats ©Talking Mats Ltd. 2020 www. talkingmats. com