Public preview

SOLER Listening Posture

Use five body cues (Square, Open, Lean, Eye contact, Relaxed) to make your speaker feel safe.

5 min Beginner

Goal

Replace body behaviors that signal distraction with a compact set of five cues that raise the speaker's sense of safety.

Steps

1

S — Square your torso toward the speaker (not fully facing — threatening; nor sideways — dismissive).

5 more steps locked

Expected Outcome

Immediate

Your speaker lengthens sentences and adds detail they would not have added before your posture change.

Evidence base

School: Helping Skills Model

Founders: Gerard Egan (1975)

Coined by Gerard Egan in The Skilled Helper as a somatic shorthand for reflective presence. Taught in clinical psychology programs.

Frequently asked questions

How long does "SOLER Listening Posture" take?

This exercise takes about 5 minutes, practiced with another person in a Behavioral format.

When will I notice the effect of "SOLER Listening Posture"?

Your speaker lengthens sentences and adds detail they would not have added before your posture change. In the short term: Within a week, close people start telling you "I feel calmer with you" or "Easier to talk to you."

Is "SOLER Listening Posture" evidence-based?

Yes — it draws on Helping Skills Model (Gerard Egan (1975)). Coined by Gerard Egan in The Skilled Helper as a somatic shorthand for reflective presence. Taught in clinical psychology programs.

Is "SOLER Listening Posture" suitable for beginners?

Its difficulty level is: Beginner. No external tools required — it can be practiced directly inside the app.

Subscribe for full access

Subscribe to Plus for full access to this practice and the whole catalogue, or try first — free, no sign-in, no commitment.

Interactive practice locked · 5 more steps locked

7 complete practices (one per domain) are free forever, no sign-in.