Social Skills Training (SST)

Behavioral Assessment and Baseline

Before starting the training, it is imperative to establish a baseline of the patient's social repertoire.

The therapist uses indirect techniques, such as structured interviews or self-reports where the patient records his/her daily difficulties (e.g. "I could not present my thesis because of fear"), and direct techniques such as systematic observation or role-playing.

It is crucial to identify specific deficits: Is the problem initiating conversations? Is it public speaking? Is it the inability to accept compliments? You can even use outside informants (bosses, family members) to get an objective picture of how the person performs in his or her natural environment.

The Four Training Procedures

The core of EHS consists of four sequential steps applied in the therapeutic setting:

Instruction: The therapist clearly explains what is to be done and how, providing specific guidelines for the desired behavior (example "You must look into the eyes and speak with audible volume").

Modeling: Based on vicarious learning, the therapist (or a co-therapist) stages the behavior for the patient to observe the correct execution.

Behavioral Rehearsal: The patient practices the behavior in a safe, simulated environment. This is the "doing" phase, where error is allowed.

Reinforcement and Feedback: After the rehearsal, the therapist first offers positive reinforcement about what was done well ("The content was excellent") and then a constructive technical correction ("You could improve your voice volume").

Nonverbal and Paralinguistic Components

Training is not limited to the content of the message (what is said), but emphasizes "how" it is said.

Non-verbal skills are worked on, such as eye contact, body posture (open vs. closed), gestures and smiling.

In parallel, paralinguistic elements are trained, including voice volume, speed of speech (not too fast due to anxiety, not too slow due to insecurity) and fluency.

Often, an assertive message loses its effectiveness if the tone is inappropriate or if the body language conveys hostility or fear, so these elements are polished through repetition and constant feedback.

Summary

Before beginning, it is imperative to establish a baseline of the patient's social repertoire through observation or simulations. It is crucial to identify specific deficits, such as difficulty initiating conversations or public speaking.

The procedure consists of four sequential steps in therapy: precise instruction, behavioral modeling, behavioral rehearsal in a safe environment, and constructive feedback. This allows for practice and error correction without real risk.

Training encompasses both verbal content and nonverbal and paralinguistic components. Elements such as eye contact, posture, voice volume and fluency are honed to ensure effectiveness.