Active listening worksheet

Active listening worksheets can be helpful tools for therapists, whether you see couples or individuals.

Using active listening worksheets in session can help strengthen communication skills, something many clients seek to improve during treatment. 

In this guide, you’ll find an overview of reflective listening worksheets, helpful tips to develop these skills, and ideas on how and when it's appropriate to use listening worksheets. 

You can also download a free reflective listening worksheet PDF to save to your electronic health record (EHR) for repeated use with clients. 

What is active listening?

Active listening is a communication skill that requires you to be fully present. It is more than listening to another person's words—it involves seeking to understand their point of view. 

Active listening demonstrates that you are giving your full attention to what the other person is saying, including their nonverbal language. 

It also involves showing the other person that you are listening with your body language and how you respond.

Using active listening worksheets can help clients develop this skill, leading to positive effects on interpersonal relationships, such as:

Improves communication skills 

Individuals working on active listening may have stronger interpersonal relationships and fewer conflicts and misunderstandings.

Builds trust and rapport 

By using reflective listening worksheets, clients can create an environment where the person speaking feels safe to express their point of view, valued, and understood.  

Leads to better working relationships 

People who actively listen are better at collaborating and negotiating. What’s more, they have more successful working relationships.

Promotes problem-solving 

Attentively listening to another person with a genuine intent to understand and an attitude of goodwill can make it easier to understand their point of view and work collaboratively to address their concerns. 

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Tips for developing active listening skills

Like many skills, active listening takes time and practice. 

There are several components to the skill, including:

Giving the other person your full attention 

Show the other person you are listening by giving your undivided attention, maintaining eye contact, and using nonverbal cues—like nodding. 

It’s also important not to jump to conclusions about what they are saying or interrupt them. 

Show you are listening 

Focus on understanding the speaker’s tone of voice, words, emotions, and non-verbal cues. These usually convey their emotion. 

For example, if they are avoiding eye contact or talking quickly, this might signal they are anxious to bring their concerns to you. 

You might respond by softening your facial expressions, having an open posture, and nodding your head to signal it is safe for them to express themselves.

Seek to understand 

Try paraphrasing or summarizing what the other person said to show you are listening. 

Summarizing will make them feel validated and show that you want to understand their perspective. 

You may ask reflection questions, like, “It sounds like you’re upset because of a disagreement at work about a project you've been working really hard on.”

Have a goodwill posture

Avoid judging the other person, jumping to conclusions, or assuming the person has negative intentions. Instead, adopt a posture of compassion, empathy, and fostering connection. 

Ask clarifying questions 

Try to use open-ended questions to better understand the other person, such as:

• When you say you’re upset with me about last night, can you tell me more about what specifically upset you? 
• How do these concerns affect you?
• How would you like to move forward?
• When you say you think we’re “stuck in a rut,” can you explain more about that?
• I see some potential solutions. How can we work together to solve the problem?
• How would you like me to adjust my behavior?

These skills are also included in the active listening skills worksheet that you can download at the top of this article.

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Using the active listening worksheet

You can download and use the reflective listening worksheet in several ways, including:

• To provide psychoeducation on the components of active listening skills
• To empower clients to identify ways to improve their communication skills and strengthen their relationships
• As a handout to practice the active listening worksheet between sessions, then debrief at their next therapy appointment

Sources

• Colorado State University. (n.d.). What is active listening? 4 tips for improving communication skills.
• Gallo, A. (2024). What is active listening?

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