Communication and the Clinical Interview

Question 1

What is cognitive behavioural therapy?

Answer 1

A commonly employed, effective, and well-researched therapeutic tool based on both cognitive psychology and behavioural theory that is used to treat a variety of psychiatric disorders (e.g., depression, anxiety, phobias, pain problems).

Idea is that your thoughts effects your feelings, which affect your behaviour.

Question 2

What are some strategies to use during motivational interviewing?

Answer 2

Avoid arguing
Express Empathy
Develop Discrepancy
Roll with Resistance
Support self-efficacy

Question 3

What are the basic assumption of solution focused therapy?

Answer 3

Person-centered: the client is their own expert on their life, they know what is working for them and what isn’t

Explore the client’s resources: - recognizes the client’s strengths, past achievements and meaningful relationships

Motivation: The client is motivated, wants change and is looking for a new direction

Collaboration: we are in an equal relationship with our clients, we create partnerships (not try to be the expert)

Potential: the client has potential to achieve a positive outcome

Question 4

What are the key points of solution focused therapy?

Answer 4

Builds on client’s strengths
Recognizes the client as a partner/ collaborator
Taps into what is working, or has worked
Builds self-efficacy
Future focused

Question 5

What are factors that affect communication?

Answer 5

• Personal factors: emtional factors like mood, social factors, and cognitive factors
• Environmental factors: physical factors such as noise or lack or privacy, and societal determinants such as presence and expectations of others
• Relationship factors: social standing, power, roles, responsibilities

Question 6

What is verbal communication?

Answer 6

All the words a person speaks.

Question 7

What is non-verbal communication?

Answer 7

Interpersonal communication conveyed through such nonverbal behaviours as body language, eye contact, facial expressions, tone of voice, or gestures.

Question 8

What are examples of non-verbal behaviours?

Answer 8

• body behaviours
• facial expressions
• eye cast
• voice-related behaviours
• observable autonomic physiological responses
• personal appearances (grooming, dress, hygiene)
• physical characteristics

Question 9

What strategies are used in therapeutic communication techniques?

Answer 9

• Silence
• active listening and listening with empathy
• Clarifying techniques such as paraphrasing, restating, reflecting, exploring
• Asking questions and eliciting patient responses using open-ended and closed-ended questions

Question 10

What are important principles of active listening?

Answer 10

• the answer is always inside the patient
• objective truth is never as simple as it seems
• everything you hear is modified by the patient’s filters
• Everything you hear is modified by your own filters
• It is okay to feel confused and uncertain
• Listern to yourself, too

Question 11

What are examples of non-therapeutic communication techniques?

Answer 11

• Excessive questioning
• Giving approval or disapproval
• Giving advice
• asking “why” questions
• Minimizing feelings
• making value judgments
• changing the subject

Question 12

What are cultural considerations in communication?

Answer 12

• communication style
• eye contact
• touch
• cultural filters

Question 13

Define assertive communication.

Answer 13

Means clearly expressing what you need, with respectful language and behaviour.

Question 14

What are the two levels of communication?

Answer 14

• Content level: verbal speech
• Process level: nonverbal behaviour