URDANETA CITY COLLEGE OF HEALTH SCIENCES

UNIVERSITY
Owned and operated by the City Government of Urdaneta
Bachelor of Science in Nursing

VIJUNGCO, ARISA MAE D. | 20182797 | BSN 3 BLOCK V

BARRIERS IN THERAPEUTIC COMMUNICATION

Barriers to therapeutic communication include challenging, probing, changing the subject, defensiveness,
false reassurances, disagreeing, judgments, rejection and minimization, and stereotyping.

CHALLENGING

Challenging, simply defined in this context, is forcing the client to defend and justify their opinions,
beliefs, and feelings. Challenging shows a lack of respect for the client and a lack of acceptance of the
client as a unique being who has, and is entitled to, their own beliefs and opinions. The client has valid
feelings that should never be challenged by the nurse.

PROBING

Probing is also not therapeutic. It is invasive, uncomfortable for most clients, and a threat to the client's
right to privacy and confidentiality. Probing the client with questions that are not relevant to their health
care and health related concerns is never appropriate. It may satisfy the nurse's curiosity but it is NOT at all
helpful to the client and addressing the client's needs.

CHANGING THE SUBJECT

Like probing, changing the subject serves only the needs of the nurse and not the client, therefore, it too is
not acceptable in nursing practice. People, including nurses, change the subject when they are too
uncomfortable and uneasy about continuing the conversation. The conversation has become too stressful
for the nurse. This is not an option. Nurses must identify their own feelings and cope with them before they
enter into therapeutic conversations and relationships with clients.

DEFENSIVENESS

Defensiveness occurs when the nurse feels the need to defend themselves, their actions, their employers or
others for their failures and shortcomings. Again, this technique fulfils the needs of the nurse rather than the
client and, as such, it is not therapeutic.

FALSE REASSURANCES

False reassurances, like trite comments and giving clients every day advice, are not at all therapeutic. False
assurances and reassurances such as "Don't worry, you are in good hands" and "Everything will be fine" are
examples of false reassurances that will certainly be a conversation stopper that will lead to client anxiety
and the client's unwillingness to share their true thoughts and fears to the nurse in the future. These effects
are detrimental to the client and their wellbeing as well as the therapeutic nurse-client interactions at the
present time and also in the future.

DISAGREEING

Disagreeing with clients is also not therapeutic or acceptable. The nurse can attempt to correct
misinformation in a therapeutic manner but they should never disagree or argue with the client, their
feelings and/or opinions.

JUDGMENTS

Judgements place a positive or negative value on the client and their messages. The therapeutic nurse-client
relationship must be, at all times, nonjudgmental, open and honest.

(075) 600 - 1507

Your bright future starts here San Vicente West, Urdaneta City, Pangasinan
ucu.edu.ph | univpresidentofficial@gmail.com
 URDANETA CITY COLLEGE OF HEALTH SCIENCES
UNIVERSITY
Owned and operated by the City Government of Urdaneta
Bachelor of Science in Nursing

REJECTION AND MINIMIZATION

Rejection of the client and any minimization and rejection of their expressions of feelings and thoughts are
also not at all acceptable in the therapeutic nurse-client relationship.

STEREOTYPING

Stereotyping is a barrier to effective communication and, in fact, it is a barrier to all thought and
interpersonal relationships. Stereotyping involves generalized thoughts and words that are not at all based
on the individuality and uniqueness of the individual.

(075) 600 - 1507

Your bright future starts here San Vicente West, Urdaneta City, Pangasinan
ucu.edu.ph | univpresidentofficial@gmail.com