Therapeutic Communication Techniques

Question 1

Using silence

Answer 1

accepting pauses or silences that may extend to several seconds or minutes w/out interjecting.

Question 2

Providing general leads

Answer 2

Using statements or questions that:

a) encourage the client to verbalize
b) choose a topic of convo
c) facilitate continued verbalization

Question 3

Being specific and tentative

Answer 3

making statements that are specific rather than general, and tentative rather than absolute

Question 4

Using open-ended questions

Answer 4

asking broad questions that lead or invite the client to explore thoughts or feelings..

Question 5

Using touch

Answer 5

Providing appropriate forms of touch to reinforce caring feelings.

Question 6

Restating or paraphrasing

Answer 6

Actively listening for the client’s basic message and then repeating those thoughts and/or feelings in similar words.

Question 7

Seeking clarification

Answer 7

a method of making the client’s broad overall meaning of the message more understandable; nurse can restate the message or confess confusion, ask client to repeat or restate the message.

Question 8

Perception checking or seeking consensual validation

Answer 8

clarifies the meaning of SPECIFIC WORDS rather than the overall meaning of a message.

Question 9

Offering self

Answer 9

suggesting one’s presence, interest or wish to understand the client w/out making any demands or attaching conditions.

Question 10

Giving information

Answer 10

providing in a simple and direct manner, specific factual information the client may or may not request.

Question 11

Acknowledging

Answer 11

verbal or nonverbal giving recognition, in a nonjudgmental way, of a change in behavior, an effort the client has made, or a contribution to a communication.

Question 12

Clarifying time or sequence

Answer 12

helping the client clarify an event, situation, or happening in relationship to time.

Question 13

Presenting reality

Answer 13

helping the client to differentiate the real from the unreal.

Question 14

Focusing

Answer 14

the nurse helps emphasize a feeling to help the client recognize an emotion disguised behind words; help the client expand on & develop a topic of importance

Question 15

Reflecting

Answer 15

Directing ideas, feelings, questions or content back to clients to enable them to explore their own ideas & feelings about a situation.

Question 16

Summarizing & Planning

Answer 16

stating the main points of a discussion to clarify the relevant points discussed.