THERAPEUTIC COMMUNICATION
SKILLS
N350 Fall 2018
Week 2
Beatrice Kiama
THERAPEUTIC COMMUNICATION
• Communication is a two way process between two or more
individuals.
• Therapeutic Communication (TC) is the key to focusing on
patient’s symptoms and needs.
• TC allows for implementation of nursing process to facilitate
excellent and caring clinical practice.
• TC builds trust, enhances therapeutic nurse/patient
relationship and can support the goals of the relationship.
THERAPEUTIC COMMUNICATION
Words Matter! What you say and how you say it conveys
significant impact to the patient, family and fellow health care
team members.
Communication is influenced by:
Your personal beliefs, experiences, gender, culture, and values
The reason for the interaction
Who is involved in the communication
The tone of the communication
Note: If patronizing, condescending or stigmatizing behavior
is being used, it blocks current and future therapeutic
communication
ENVIRONMENTAL
CONSIDERATIONS
The environment in which you have a patient or family
interaction makes a difference.
Always Consider:
Privacy
Furniture
Temperature
Noise
THERAPEUTIC COMMUNICATION
Social vs Therapeutic Communication
Social Communication:
Spontaneous
Personal
Confidentiality may or may not be observed
Listener may not be objective
THERAPEUTIC COMMUNICATION
Therapeutic Communication:
Patient centered
Planned
Directed by the professional to meet the patient’s needs
Purposeful – to explore personal issues and painful feelings of
the patient
Objective
Confidential
SURETY: A METHOD OF
THERAPEUTIC COMMUNICATION
SURETY
S = Sit
U = Uncross legs and arms
R = Relax
E = Eye contact
T = Touch
Y = Your intuition
Webster’s dictionary definition = A state of being sure;
certainty; present in a confident manner; a pledge or other
formal engagement for the fulfillment of an undertaking
SURETY: A METHOD OF
THERAPEUTIC COMMUNICATION
S - Sit
Sit at an angle to the client
Creates a comfortable seating arrangement
Give enough space between people (determined by culture)
SURETY: A METHOD OF
THERAPEUTIC COMMUNICATION
U – Uncross legs and arms
In some cultures crossed arms are seen as not interested,
defensive, or superior
Deliberately uncrossing arms and legs indicates an open
posture and receptive to the other person
SURETY: A METHOD OF
THERAPEUTIC COMMUNICATION
R – Relax
Leaning towards the patient is an unnatural position and may
be difficult to maintain
There is a difference between professional relaxation, still
with in the context of the patient/nurse relationship as
opposed to feeling relaxed in a personal context
SURETY: A METHOD OF
THERAPEUTIC COMMUNICATION
E – Eye contact
Communicates respect and paying attention
Different from staring, which is insensitive and intrusive
May break from eye contact on occasion, especially if the
patient feels “put on the spot”
SURETY: A METHOD OF
THERAPEUTIC COMMUNICATION
T – Touch
Appropriate use of touch and awareness of cultural sensitivity
including the meaning of “touch” to each individual patient
Appropriate use of touch is respectful, compassionate and
understanding
Inappropriate use of touch can be viewed as abusive
SURETY: A METHOD OF
THERAPEUTIC COMMUNICATION
Y –Your intuition
Intuition should be trusted
Listen to your “inner voice” and gather information about
what is your intuition perceiving.
Stickley, T. (2011) From SOLAR to SURETY for effective non-
verbal communication. Nurse Education In Practice (11): 395-398.
SKILL TO REMEMBER
Introduce yourself to the patient/client
Ask permission to spend time with the patient
Utilize SURETY to facilitate a conversation
Sit at an angle to the patient
Uncross legs and arms
Relax
Establish Eye contact
Utilize touch appropriately (can shake hands if patient
initiates this gesture)
Use your intuition to facilitate therapeutic communication
SKILLS TO REMEMBER
Use therapeutic communication as outlined in your textbook
to have your conversation between you and the patient
Did not give advice
Monitor changes in the patient’s anxiety level
Involve patient in problem solving of a subject that the
patient brings up for discussion
Demonstrate active listening
Utilize Interpersonal Record for documentation of the
interaction
