Assertiveness Skills
submitted by Anna Martin, CTRS of Magee Rehabilitation on August 6, 2006

Size of Group: Can vary

Equipment: Presentation board, Marker, Flash cards with role playing scenarios

Objective:
To identify passive/aggressive/assertive coping techniques upon education
To ID effective techniques to express needs and wants in individual situations
To learn postitive comments.
ID benefits to assertive techniques in daily living

Description:
Steps:
1. ID areas of expressing needs and wants Nursing assistance with bathing, dressing, eating, shopping, propelling wheelchair in crowds, leisure tasks (playing games/going out to eat/traveling), speaking with the doctor, being with friends.
(write patient’s answers on board/poster for referral and to id similarities they have with each other)

2. ID Assertion/Passive/Aggressive
(break up topics into columns on board and label differences for referral during role playing)

Assertiveness: is a way of thinking and behaving that allows a person to stand up for his or her rights while respecting the rights of others. The assertive person clearly expresses his or her rights or needs. They tend to face problems promptly and they focus on solutions rather than problems.
Charactoristics include:

Expresses needs, wants and feelings directly and honestly Allows others to hold different views without dismissing or deprecating them Respects the fact that others' needs are as important as one's own Realizes that no one controls anyone else.