Mental Health Mini # 8: Therapeutic Communication

Summary

This video explores therapeutic communication techniques in nursing, emphasizing the importance of both verbal and non-verbal communication. It highlights key aspects like active listening, eye contact, and recognizing body language to improve patient interactions. Non-verbal cues are noted to make up 93-97% of communication, offering insights into a patient's feelings. The video also covers therapeutic techniques such as silence, open-ended questioning, and feedback, while warning against non-therapeutic practices like false reassurance and advice-giving. Additionally, tools like motivational interviewing and process recording are introduced to further enhance patient care and communication skills.

Takeaways

• 😀 Communication consists of three key components: a sender, a message, and a receiver.
• 😀 Verbal communication accounts for only 5% of total communication, while non-verbal communication makes up 93-97%.
• 😀 Non-verbal communication includes body language, gestures, posture, touch, facial expressions, and eye contact.
• 😀 Factors like values, culture, religion, social status, gender, age, and environment can influence communication effectiveness.
• 😀 Active listening is a crucial technique in therapeutic communication, focusing on understanding rather than responding.
• 😀 Therapeutic communication techniques include silence, open-ended questioning, clarification, and restating information.
• 😀 Silence, although uncomfortable, can encourage patients to open up and process their thoughts.
• 😀 Non-therapeutic communication includes offering false reassurance, giving advice, or rejecting the patient's thoughts or ideas.
• 😀 Motivational interviewing helps guide patients toward behavior change by focusing on empathy, avoiding arguments, and supporting self-efficacy.
• 😀 Process recording is a tool for analyzing interactions with patients, helping identify effective and ineffective communication techniques.
• 😀 Therapeutic communication should avoid stereotyping, belittling, denial, or changing topics abruptly to divert from a conversation.

Q & A

What are the three essential components for communication to be considered effective?

The three essential components for communication to be considered effective are the sender, the message being sent, and the receiver who is receiving the message.

What percentage of communication is verbal, and what are its forms?

Verbal communication accounts for about 5% of communication and includes both spoken and written language.

Why is non-verbal communication considered more reliable than verbal communication?

Non-verbal communication is considered more reliable because it often conveys what we are thinking or feeling without needing to be explicitly stated, making it a more authentic reflection of our emotions.

What are some examples of non-verbal communication?

Examples of non-verbal communication include body movements, hand gestures, posture, facial expressions, eye contact, use of touch, and the tone, pitch, and speed of the voice.

What factors can influence the effectiveness of communication?

Factors that can influence communication effectiveness include values and attitudes, culture and religion, social status, gender, age, developmental level, and environmental factors like noise levels or distractions.

What is active listening, and why is it essential in therapeutic communication?

Active listening is the process of listening to understand, not to respond. It is essential in therapeutic communication because it fosters trust, respect, and acceptance, allowing the patient to feel heard and supported.

What are some key techniques for practicing active listening?

Key techniques for practicing active listening include facing the patient, maintaining an open posture, using appropriate eye contact, being aware of non-verbal cues, and applying therapeutic communication techniques like open-ended questions and reflections.

What is the purpose of silence in therapeutic communication?

Silence in therapeutic communication allows the patient to process their thoughts and feelings, encourages them to open up, and can create a space for reflection without pressure to immediately respond.

What is an example of a non-therapeutic communication technique, and why should it be avoided?

An example of a non-therapeutic communication technique is offering false reassurance, such as telling a patient, 'Don't worry, everything will be fine.' This should be avoided because it provides false comfort without evidence, which can undermine trust.

What is motivational interviewing, and how does it support behavioral change?

Motivational interviewing is a specific communication technique that helps guide patients through behavioral changes by expressing empathy, avoiding arguments, and supporting self-efficacy, allowing patients to see the benefits and risks of making changes.