Therapeutic Communication

• Broad opening


  It is the best therapeutic communication when initiating
• With exploring be as broad as possible "tell me more about you and your bf"
• Reflecting promotes independent decision making by termination of the nurse-client relationship
• In therapeutic communication, never agree or disagree and never give opinon and never ask the question "why"


  Nurses are only here to assist patients to make their own decisions
• Offering self


  "I'll sit with for a while"
• Clarifying 


  Client: "I'm feeling sick inside"

  Nurse: "What do you mean by feeling sick inside?"
• Restating


  "I can't sleep. I stay awake all night"

  "You have difficulty sleeping"
• Verbalizing the Implied 


  "Life is hard. I just want to put an end to everything"

  "You seem to be having a difficult time, are you planning to harm yourself?"
• Exploring 


  "Tell me more"
• Broad opening 


  "How are you feeling today?"
• Silence


  Observe for non-verbal cues
• General Lead


  "Go on" "And then?"
• Non- Therapeutic Communication Techniques

  Stereotyping - "just have a positive attitude"
• Non- Therapeutic Communication Techniques

  Belittling - "everybody gets down in the dump"
• Non- Therapeutic Communication Techniques

  Reassuring - "everything will be alright"
• Non- Therapeutic Communication Techniques

  Requesting an explanation - "why"
• Therapeutic Communication for Boards

  S - Sit(Offering self) Silently - best intervention for withdraw, depression

  C - Clarify - "what do you mean by..."

  A - Acknowledge - "i can see..." "it sounds..." , supportive confrontation

  R - Restate - best response of the nurse

  R - Reflect - "what do you think would"

  E - Explore - "tell me more"