Trainer Feedback: A Method for Teaching Interpersonal Skills

Feedback is an important teaching skill for counselor educators and supervisors teaching helping skills and for practitioners employing skill-training programs as an intervention for clients with relationship problems. Trainer feedback reports observable behaviors, describes how the trainee's performance deviated from or matches mastery performance criteria, and provides suggestions for improved skill implementation. By using a systematic, organized feedback delivery, a trainer can have powerful impact in promoting skill acquisition by trainees. This article describes the elements of trainer feedback, offers guidelines for giving and receiving feedback, and responds to common issues concerning the use of feedback in skill training groups.