Relationship between Nonverbal Behavior of Consultants and Consultees: A Preliminary Study

Abstract

Little is known about the relationship between the nonverbal behavior of consultants and consultees in problem identification interviews in behavioral consultations. In particular, despite its assumed importance to consultative relationships and consultation success, the effects of nonverbal behavior on behavioral consultations remains unexplored. This short case report describes a study which sought to determine how nonverbal behavior from consultants can control the behavior of consultees. We recorded the occurrence or nonoccurrence of gestures and nodding responses and examined the association between these nonverbal behaviors in consultants and consultees by lag sequential analysis of videotaped sessions. The consultations involved two consultants and one consultee. The consultee presented the cases of two clients with distinct clinical problems and discussed solutions in two consultation sessions with each consultant, for a total of four consultation sessions. Our findings suggest that the experiential differences of consultants influenced the use and effect of nonverbal behaviors in behavioral consultations. Lag sequential analysis further showed that a consultant's nonverbal behavior, such as hand gestures, controlled that of the consultee. However, the promotional impact of nodding responses by the consultee in response to the experienced consultant was not observed in response to the less experienced consultant. Although our findings were derived from a single consultation series involving only four consultation sessions, they highlight the importance of nonverbal behavior for behavioral consultation success and suggest that consultant education and training programs for nonverbal behavior be continually updated with new knowledge to improve consultation success.