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Three-Sentence Reflective Listening
After hearing your partner, reflect back three sentences: content, feeling, and underlying value.
Goal
Move from "I heard your words" to "I understood what matters underneath", by distinguishing three layers in everything said.
Steps
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1
Listen to your partner speak for at least two minutes without interrupting.
Expected Outcome
Immediate
Your partner corrects one of the three sentences, and that correction is the most useful information in the talk.
Evidence base
School: Motivational Interviewing
Founders: William R. Miller · Stephen Rollnick (1983)
Reflective listening at its layered levels (simple, complex, value) is a core MI tool with proven behavior-change efficacy.
Keywords
Frequently asked questions
How long does "Three-Sentence Reflective Listening" take?
This exercise takes about 7 minutes, practiced with another person in a Inner dialogue format.
When will I notice the effect of "Three-Sentence Reflective Listening"?
Your partner corrects one of the three sentences, and that correction is the most useful information in the talk. In the short term: Within two weeks, conflicts in your close relationship drop because they were misunderstandings at the feeling or value layer.
Is "Three-Sentence Reflective Listening" evidence-based?
Yes — it draws on Motivational Interviewing (William R. Miller, Stephen Rollnick (1983)). Reflective listening at its layered levels (simple, complex, value) is a core MI tool with proven behavior-change efficacy.
Is "Three-Sentence Reflective Listening" suitable for beginners?
Its difficulty level is: Intermediate. No external tools required — it can be practiced directly inside the app.
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