Therapy is a type of psychological surgery. Although therapists are trained in academic theory and technical skills, the interpersonal dynamics of therapy are often critical, because therapy is unlikely to succeed without the cooperation of the patient. For this reason, it is critical for you to establish good communication with your patient. Therapeutic communication is useful not only for psychologists and psychiatrists, but also for those in professions such as nursing.
General Framework
Successful therapy is particularly dependent on communication. A broken leg or a cancerous organ can be identified even when a patient is unconscious, but thoughts and feelings are more difficult to reach unless the patient is willing to express them. For this reason, techniques have been developed to allow you to elicit the information you need from your patients.
Opening Statements
At the beginning of the therapy session, you should use a broad opening statement such as "Is there something you'd like to talk about?" This encourages open responses and discourages one-word answers from reticent patients. It also puts the focus on the patient instead of you. You can then clarify the patient's initial response by asking follow-up questions.
Acceptance Cues
Acceptance cues are short, meaningless responses that simply indicate to the patient that you are listening and encourage him to continue. Examples include "yes," "uh-huh," or a simple nodding of the head. You should skillfully use non-verbal cues such as facial expressions to indicate that you can accept what the patient is saying in a non-judgmental way, not that you necessarily agree with what the patient is saying according to Deborah Huntley, Associate Professor of Nursing at Georgia Perimeter College. Attentive listening and a non-judgmental attitude both demonstrate empathy.
Observation
A therapist or helper should make non-judgmental observations about the patient, such as, "You appear tense," says Huntley. You will need to exercise professional judgment to determine whether a comment is appropriate in a given instance. Observations may help a patient who has low emotional intelligence to identify his own emotions. Moreover, the act of demonstrating that you are paying close attention to the patient is another means of demonstrating empathy.
Benefits
Empathy, expressed through respect, attention and a non-judgmental attitude, encourages trust, authenticity and self-insight on the part of the patient, which is crucial to obtaining accurate information. Ugo Uche, a licensed professional counselor, emphasizes that expressing empathy also sets an example for patients to see others in a non-self-centered fashion, an approach that is likely to improve their social relationships.
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