Therapeutic Communications Chapter 1

• Types of Communication


  • Therapeutic Communication: To meet patients needs/Emotion
  • Professional Communication: Visual, Oral
  • Social Communication: Day to Day Communication
• Communication Process


  1. Focus your observation

  2. Fully engage in listening

  3. Become Skilled in asking questions

  4. Be open to patients emotions

  5. Avoid Blame

  6. Help patient express emotions
• Helping Profession


  • Using nonverbal/verbal communication
  • Being Presentable
  • Being empathetic
  • Having a positive attitudes
  • Having good attention to detail
  • Demonstrating integrity
• Elements of Communication


  • The Sender: Encodes the message
  • The Messenger: Communicates the Message
  • Mode of Communication: How message is sent
  • The Receiver: Recipient of message
  • Feedback: Checks message from receiver/sender
• Communication Channels


  • Written: When nonverbal/Verbal language is not needed
  • Spoken: When verbal cues are present
  • Face to face: When nonverbal cues are present
  • Electronic: When quick communication is Present
• Effective Communication


  • Complete
  • Clear
  • Concise
  • Cohesive
  • Courteous
• Verbal Communication


  • All communication with spoken words
• Nonverbal Communication


  • All communication without spoken words
  • Facial Expression
  • Gestures
  • Body language
  • Personal space
• Personal Space


  • Intimate: 0-18 inches
  • Personal: 18 inches to 4 feet
  • Social: 4-12 feet
  • Public: 12-15 feet
• Team Communication


  1. Listen to others

  2. Explain Ideas clearly

  3. Clarify Ideas as needed

  4. Express feeling in a nonthreatening way

  5. Check for feeling in nonverbal cues

  6. Initiate conversation on nonverbal cues

  7. Encourage others to be effective communicators
• Factors affecting communication


  • Genetic Factors
  • Cultural Factors
  • Economic Factors
  • Life Factors
  • Spiritual Believe Factors
  • Role models
• Four Selves


  • Ideal Self: who we think we are
  • Public Self: who we want others to see as
  • Real Self: who we really are
  • Critical Self: Shaming mind