LEC 2.3: Communication | Therapeutic Communication Techniques & Barriers to Communication

Study the different "Therapeutic Communication Techniques" & "Barriers to Communication"

1. Using silence

2. Providing general leads

3. Being specific & tentative

4. Using open-ended questions

5. Using touch

6. Restating or paraphrasing

7. Acknowledging

8. Clarifying time or sequence

9. Presenting reality

10. Focusing

11. Reflecting

12. Summarizing and planning

13. Seeking clarification

14. Perception checking or seeking consensual validation

15. Offering self

16. Giving information

16 Therapeutic Communication Techniques

Using Silence

One of the therapeutic communication techniques

Example is sitting quietly; waiting attentively until the client is able to put thoughts and feelings into words

Providing general leads

One of the therapeutic communication techniques

"Can you tell me how it is for you?"

"Perhaps you would like to talk about..."

Being specific & tentative

One of the therapeutic communication techniques

"Rate your pain on a scale of 1 to 10."

Using open-ended questions

One of the therapeutic communication techniques

"Tell me more...”

Using touch

One of the therapeutic communication techniques

Placing your hand over the client’s hand

Restating/Paraphrasing

One of the therapeutic communication techniques

Client: "I couldn't manage to eat any dinner last night-not even dessert."

Nurse: "You had difficulty eating yesterday."

Client: "Yes, I was very upset after my family left."

Seeking clarification

One of the therapeutic communication techniques

"Would you please say that again."

Perception checking or seeking consensual validation

One of the therapeutic communication techniques

Client: "My husband never gives me any presents."

Nurse: "You mean he has never given you a present for your birthday or Christmas?"

Client: "Well-not never. He does get me something for my birthday and Christmas, but he never thinks of giving me anything at any other time,"

Offering Self

One of the therapeutic communication techniques

"I'll stay with you until your daughter arrives."

Giving Information

One of the therapeutic communication techniques

"You will feel a pulling sensation when the tube is removed from your abdomen."

Acknowledging

One of the therapeutic communication techniques

"I noticed you keep squinting your eyes. Are you having difficulty seeing?"

Clarifying time and sequence

One of the therapeutic communication techniques

Client: "I vomited this morning."

Nurse: "Was that after breakfast?"

Presenting reality

One of the therapeutic communication techniques

"That telephone ring came from the program on the TV."

Focusing

One of the therapeutic communication techniques

Client: "My wife says she will look after me, but I don't think she can. The children are always after her about something - clothes, homework, what's for dinner that night,"

Nurse: "Sounds like you're worried about how well she can manage."

Reflecting

One of the therapeutic communication techniques

Client: "what can I do?"

Nurse: "What do you think will be helpful?"

Client: "Do you think I should tell my husband?"

Nurse: "You seem unsure about telling your husband."

Summarizing & Planning

One of the therapeutic communication techniques

"During the past hour, we have talked about...."

"Tomorrow afternoon we may explore this further."

1. Stereotyping

2. Agreeing and disagreeing

3. Being defensive

4. Challenging

5. Probing

6. Testing

7. Rejecting

8. Changing topics

9. Unwarranted reassurance

10. Passing judgment

11. Giving common advice

11 Barriers to Communication

Stereotyping

One of the barriers to communication

"Two-year-olds are brats."

Agreeing & Disagreeing

One of the barriers to communication

Client: "I don't think Dr. Broad is a very good doctor. He doesn't seem interested in his clients."

Nurse: "Dr. Broad is head of the department of surgery and is an excellent surgeon."

Being Defensive

One of the barriers to communication

Client: "Those night nurses must just sit around and talk all night. They didn't answer my light for over an hour."

Nurse: "I'll have you know we literally run around on nights. You're not the only client, you know."

Challenging

One of the barriers to communication

Client: "I feel as if I'm dying."

Nurse: "How can you feel that way when your pulse is 60?"

Probing

One of the barriers to communication

Client: "I was speeding along the street and didn't see the stop sign."

Nurse: "Why were you speeding?"

Testing

One of the barriers to communication

"Do you think I am not busy?" (forces the client to admit that the nurse really is busy)

Rejecting

One of the barriers to communication

"Let's discuss other areas of interest to you rather than the two problems you keep mentioning."

Changing topics & subjects

One of the barriers to communication

"I can't talk now. I'm on my way for coffee break."

Unwarranted reassurance

One of the barriers to communication

"I'm sure everything will be alright."

Passing judgement

One of the barriers to communication

"You shouldn't do that."

Giving common advice

One of the barriers to communication

Client: "Should I move from my home to a nursing home?"

Nurse: "If I were you, I'd go to nursing home, where you'll get your meals cooked for you."