When preparing for a new client, it is so important to think about what you are going to do in the first few minutes of a consulting session. Not only is it both of your first experiences with each other, but it can set the tone for the upcoming session and future sessions to come. As a Writing Center consultant, I want to focus on how to make clients more comfortable and focused before looking at their text. In order to accomplish this, I first looked at the typical structure of the pre-textual, or the introduction, phase of a consulting session.
In “The Oxford Guide for Writing Tutors” by Fitzgerald and Ianetta, they outline typical interactions to get ‘acquainted’ with clients. For example, they say that “according to several studies, engaging in small talk can lead to greater satisfaction for [consultants] and [clients], and not doing so can lead to unfulfilled expectations for both” (Fitzgerald & Ianetta, 57). This is such an important step in developing a relationship with your client, as it allows for a more casual and relaxed atmosphere to form before moving on to look at the text brought to the consultant. I want to expand upon this idea of “small talk” that Fitzgerald and Ianetta bring up by incorporating mindfulness into this pre-textual phase.
Mindfulness as a practice aims to help people connect more with their inner thoughts and emotions, opening them up to new ideas while also helping to stabilize their mental health. I propose that using mindfulness strategies, like breathing exercises or mental activities, during the pre-textual phase will help consultants connect with their clients while also creating an environment that fosters creativity. Not only will it help the client enter into a more receptive state to receive suggestions and criticism, but it also allows for the consultants to connect more with their clients.
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