Therapeutic Communication and Mental Health Essentials

Comprehensive flashcards covering therapeutic communication, client responses to illness, psychosocial assessment, legal and ethical issues, and the grief/loss process.

Communication

The exchange of information between individuals.

Verbal Communication

The use of words to represent objects and concepts during interaction.

Nonverbal Communication

Behaviors that accompany words, such as body language, eye contact, and facial expressions.

Content

The literal words spoken in a verbal exchange.

Context

The environment and circumstances in which communication occurs.

Process Component

Nonverbal messages that give meaning and context to literal words.

Therapeutic Communication

An interpersonal interaction between the nurse and the client focused on the client's specific needs.

Intimate Zone

Hall's distance zone of $0$ to $18\,in$, used for personal contact and whispering.

Personal Zone

Hall's distance zone of $18$ to $36\,in$, comfortable for family and friends.

Social Zone

Hall's distance zone of $4$ to $12\,ft$, acceptable for social, work, and business settings.

Public Zone

Hall's distance zone of $12$ to $25\,ft$, acceptable for speakers and audiences.

Accepting

A therapeutic technique indicating reception, such as saying "Yes" or nodding.

Broad Openings

Allowing the client to introduce the topic and take the lead in the interaction.

Consensual Validation

Searching for mutual understanding to ensure words have the same meaning for both parties.

Encouraging Comparison

Asking the client to note similarities and differences to help recall past coping strategies.

Encouraging Description of Perceptions

Asking the client to verbalize what is happening to understand their perspective.

Encouraging Expression

Asking the client to appraise the quality of their experiences and make their own appraisals.

Exploring

Delving further into a subject or idea to examine issues in depth.

Focusing

Concentrating on a single point to prevent the client from becoming overwhelmed by multiple concerns.

Formulating a Plan of Action

Asking the client to consider behaviors likely to be appropriate for future situations.

General Leads

Giving encouragement to continue a conversation, such as "Go on" or "And then?"

Giving Information

Making facts available that the client needs to increase knowledge and build trust.

Giving Recognition

Acknowledging the client by name or noting efforts made to show awareness of them as a person.

Making Observations

Verbalizing what the nurse perceives to help the client recognize behaviors.

Offering Self

Making oneself available unconditionally to provide support and presence.

Placing Event in Time or Sequence

Clarifying the relationship of events in time to see them in perspective.

Presenting Reality

Offering consideration of what is real when a client is misinterpreting reality.

Reflecting

Directing actions, thoughts, and feelings back to the client to encourage acceptance of feelings.

Restating

Repeating the main idea expressed by the client to show it was communicated effectively.

Seeking Information

Seeking to make clear that which is vague or not meaningful.

Silence

Absence of verbal communication providing time for the client to organize thoughts and organize feelings.

Suggesting Collaboration

Offering to work together with the client for their benefit.

Summarizing

Organizing and summing up important points to increase awareness and understanding.

Translating into Feelings

Seeking to verbalize client's feelings that they express only indirectly.

Verbalizing the Implied

Voicing what the client has hinted at or suggested indirectly.

Voicing Doubt

Expressing uncertainty about the reality of client perceptions without agreeing or disagreeing.

Advising

A nontherapeutic technique of telling the client what to do, implying only the nurse knows best.

Agreeing

A nontherapeutic technique indicating accord, which prevents the client from changing their mind later.

Belittling Feelings Expressed

Misjudging the degree of the client's discomfort to imply it is temporary or not important.

Challenging

Demanding proof from the client, which often causes them to defend delusions more strongly.

Defending

Attempting to protect something from verbal attack, which blocks further communication.

Disagreeing

Opposing the client's ideas, implying they are wrong and making them defensive.

Disapproving

Denouncing behavior or ideas, implying the nurse has the right to pass judgment.

Giving Approval

Sanctioning behaviors, which limits the client's freedom to think or act independently.

Giving Literal Responses

Responding to a figurative comment as though it were a statement of fact.

Indicating External Source

Attributing thoughts or behaviors to outside influences, implying the client was compelled to think a certain way.

Interpreting

Asking to make conscious that which is unconscious or telling the client the meaning of their experience.

Introducing Unrelated Topic

Changing the subject, taking the initiative away from the client.

Probing

Persistent questioning that makes the client feel used or invaded.

Reassuring

Indicating there is no reason for anxiety, which devalues the client's feelings.

Rejecting

Refusing to consider or showing contempt for the client's ideas or behaviors.

Requesting an Explanation

Asking "why" questions, which are often intimidating and make the client defensive.

Testing

Appraising the client's degree of insight, which meets the nurse's needs rather than the client's.

Using Denial

Refusing to admit that a problem exists or dismissing feelings.

Functional-Professional Touch

Knapp's type of touch used in medical examinations or procedures.

Social-Polite Touch

Knapp's type of touch used in greetings such as handshakes.

Friendship-Warmth Touch

Knapp's type of touch involving hugs and backslaps.

Love-Intimacy Touch

Knapp's type of touch involving tight hugs and kisses between close relatives or companions.

Sexual-Arousal Touch

Knapp's type of touch used by lovers.

Abstract Message

Figurative language that can lead to misinterpretation and confusion, such as "Don't sweat the small stuff."

Concrete Message

Clear, specific, and easy-to-understand literal language that reduces anxiety.

Vocal Cues

Nonverbal sound signals transmitted with content, including volume, tone, pitch, and speed.

Closed Body Position

Positions like crossed legs or folded arms that indicate defensiveness.

Accepting Body Position

Facing the client with feet on the floor and hands at the side to demonstrate trust and care.

Spirituality

Beliefs about life, health, illness, death, and the relationship to the universe.

Religion

An organized system of beliefs about all-powerful forces governing the universe.

Culture

Socially learned behaviors, values, and customs transmitted down generations.

Individualistic Culture

A culture that values self-reliance and independence.

Collectivistic Culture

A culture that values the group and obligations enhancing group security.

Cultural Competency

The ability to engage knowledgeably with people across different cultures.

Problem-Solving Steps

Identify the problem, brainstorm solutions, select the best alternative, implement, and evaluate.

Self-Efficacy

The belief that personal abilities affect life events.

Resilience

Healthy responses to stress and the ability to adapt to challenges.

Resourcefulness

Using problem-solving skills to overcome challenges.

Sense of Belonging

A feeling of connectedness and being part of a group, which is a basic human need.

Natural View of Illness

Belief that illness is caused by natural conditions or forces.

Unnatural Beliefs about Illness

Attributing illness to outside agents, spirits, or supernatural forces.

Biomedical View of Illness

The perspective of cause and effect for all phenomena, viewing health as the absence of disease.

Health Literacy

A person's ability to find, use, and understand information to make health-related decisions.

Trust vs. Mistrust

Erikson's stage (infant) focused on viewing the world as safe and reliable.

Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt

Erikson's stage (toddler) focused on achieving a sense of control and free will.

Initiative vs. Guilt

Erikson's stage (preschool) focused on developing a conscience and managing conflict.

Industry vs. Inferiority

Erikson's stage (school age) focused on building confidence in own abilities.

Identity vs. Role Diffusion

Erikson's stage (adolescence) focused on formulating a sense of self and belonging.

Intimacy vs. Isolation

Erikson's young adult stage focused on forming loving relationships and meaningful attachment.

Generativity vs. Stagnation

Erikson's middle adult stage focused on being creative, productive, and establishing the next generation.

Ego Integrity vs. Despair

Erikson's maturity stage focused on accepting responsibility for oneself and life.

Social Determinants of Health (SDOH)

Conditions in environments such as health care access, education, and economic stability.

Cultural Humility

A lifelong commitment to self-evaluation and critique to understand other cultures and address power imbalances.

Psychosocial Assessment

An evaluation of the client's current emotional state, mental capacity, and behavioral function.

Automatisms

Purposeless behaviors that indicate anxiety, such as drumming fingers or twisting hair.

Psychomotor Retardation

An overall slowing of physical movements observed in the client.

Waxy Flexibility

Maintaining an awkward posture for an extended period, even when it is uncomfortable.

Mood

A pervasive emotional state reflecting how someone feels inside.

Affect

The outward expression of emotion as observed by others.

Blunted Affect

Reduced emotional response with minimal eye contact and facial expression.

Flat Affect

The complete absence of visible emotional expression.

Broad Affect

A display involving a full range of emotional expression.

Inappropriate Affect

An emotional response that does not fit the context of the situation.

Restricted Affect

Displaying only once type of expression, usually serious or somber.