Communication

Therapeutic Communication Skills Part 1

Virginia J. Duffy PhD, Nurse Practitioner in Psychiatry

Listening Is The Most Important Communication Technique

Giving your full attention to what the other person is saying is known as “active” listening. Active listening means paying attention to what the person is actually saying, but also trying to understand where he/she is “coming from.” Active listening means hearing not only the actual words, but also the
message behind them I always liken this to hearing not just the words but the music also.. This skill is not as easy as it sounds and takes time to learn. You may have to ask questions such as, I am not sure what you mean by that, can you say more about that?

It is important to not interrupting unless necessary. If it is necessary say something like, can I ask something or (tell you something ) here, and wait for a response. Try to do this only when you feel like you absolutely need to and try to explain why. You can say something like, “ I think if you knew this you might understand better.” Do not be thinking of what your response will be while you are listening, but try to remember the points you want to address.

Accepting Others: Crucial for Good Communication

Acceptance of a person regardless of their situation is crucial for therapeutic communication. Remember, acceptance of the person as a human being in distress does not mean approval or acceptance of what the patient is saying or doing. The best way to indicate acceptance and encourage the person to go on talking is active listening with responses, such as “uh-hmm,” “yes,” “go on,” and nodding.

Using Open-ended Questions In Theraputic Communication

Open ended questions are an excellent way to encourage the person to continue talking. They are questions that cannot be answered with a yes or no. A good example of an open-ended question is, “Can you tell me what is making you feel so bad”? Don't ask leading/closed questions such as : Are you upset?

What Not To Say To Someone Who Is Crying

Always know the right thing to say and what not to say to someone who is upset.

Return to Articles Listing

This site is entirely funded by Dr. Duffy Please send any email correspondence to: