Blocks of Therapeutic Communication

Examples of stereotyped comments

"How are you" "Keep your chin up"

Examples of defending

"Im sure Dr.______ didn't mean this" "This is a fine hospital"

examples of requesting an explanation

"Why are you upset" "Why did you do that"

Examples of disagreeing with Clients feelings

"thats not true" "I don't believe that"

Examples of giving advice

"what you should do is.." "Why don't you.."

Examples of Agreeing with the client

I agree with you you must be right

Examples of belittling the clients feelings

I know how you feel Thats nothing to worry about

Changing the Subject

Nurse directs the course of the conversation and neglects the right of the client to express his feelings. Usually the nurse changes the subject to avoid a topic with which she is uncomfortable

Example of changing the subject

That reminds me...

Giving Approval

approval to statements like "i know it should make me upset" places limits on the clients behavior and conveys that the nurses concept of right and wrong are used in judging clients behavior approval implies certain behavior is good and opposite behavior is bad

Using reassuring cliches

cliches are used when a person doesn't know what to say. tend to block communication because they convey to the client that the nurse feels they are worrying needlessly or that they are not interested in their problems

examples of reassuring cliches

everything will be alright you don't need to worry

Disagreeing with Clients Feelings

nurse contradicts the client and make him feel threatened, angry or more adamant in his convictions.

Expressing Disapproval

nurse places negative value judgments on the clients actions or communication and indicates that the nurse is not open to the clients values

Requesting an explanation

requires the client immediately analyze and explain feelings and actions. Client is asked to defend position and my be intimidated or become angry

examples of giving approval

that the right attitude that the right thing to do

Agreeing with the client

the nurse interjects her own opinions and values into the conversation and can thus prevent the client from expressing themselves freely. Agreeing also makes it difficult for the client to change mind at a later date

Defending

these blocks tell the client that their negative comments are unfounded and that he has no right to voice his opinion

Belittling the clients feelings

these statements imply that the clients feelings are not unusual and thus deny the importance the feelings have for the client

Making stereotyped comments

these statements maintain the conversation at a superficial level

Giving advice

this undermines the ability of client to make own decisions, and imposes nurses opinions and judgements on the client. Client is trapped by advice given. if client accepts advice they are dependent on the nurse, if reject it they could resent the nurse

Examples of Expressing disapproval

you should stop worrying thats bad