THERAPEUTIC AND NON-THERAPEUTIC COMMUNICATION
TECHNIQUES
THERAPEUTIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUES
Offering self – making oneself available.
Silence—absence of verbal
communication provides time for the
client to put actions, thoughts, or feelings
into words and slows pace of interaction.
Empathy - recognizing and
acknowledging patient’s feelings
Exploring – delving further into a subject
or idea
General leads—encouraging
Continuation
Restating – repeating the main idea
expressed.
Verbalizing the implied—voicing
what has been suggested or hinted at
Clarification - asking patients to restate,
elaborate, or give examples of ideas or
feelings
Broad openings—using open-ended
questions that provide opportunity for
client to introduce topic
Encouraging expression – asking client
to appraise the quality of his or her
experiences
Giving recognition—objective
Acknowledgment
Making observation – verbalizing what
the nurse perceives.
“I’ll sit with you for a while”
(“Mauupo muna ako dito sandali.”)
“I’ll stay with you.”
(‘Samahan kita”)
Maintain eye contact , convey interest and concern
with facial Expression
“I can hear how painful it is for you to talk about
this.”
(“Nauunawaan ko kung gaano kasakit para sa iyo
na pag-usapan ang bagay na ito.”)
“Tell me about it”
(“Sabihin o ikuwento mo sa akin..”)
“Go on, I’m listening.”
(“ Ituloy mo, nakikinig ako.”)
“I hear what you are saying”
(“Naririnig ko ang mga sinasabi mo.”)
“And then…”
(“Pagkatapos…”)
“You say you are going home soon.”
(“Nabanggit mo na malapit ka nang umuwi.”)
“Your mother wasn’t happy to see you?”
(“Hindi ba natutuwa ang iyong ina nang kayo ay
nakita?”)
Client: “There is nothing to do at home.”
(Kliyente: “Wala namang magawa sa bahay.”)
Nurse: “It sound as if you might be bored at home.”
(Nars: “Lumalabas na parang naiinip ka sa bahay.”)
“What do you mean by feeling sick inside?”
(“Ano ang ibig mong sabihin kapag binanggit mo na
masama ang iyong pakiramdam?”)
“Give me an example of being ‘lost’”
(“Magbigay ka ng halimbawa ng isang
nararamdaman mong ikaw ay ‘nawawala sa
sarili’.”)
"What's new?"
(“Ano’ng bago?”)
"What are you thinking about?"
“What are your feelings in regard to …?”
(“Ano ang nararamdaman mo tungkol sa…?”)
"Good morning, Mr. Thomas."
(“Magandang araw, Ginoong Tomas”)
"I notice you've combed your hair."
(“Napansin ko na sinulaklay ninyo ang inyong
buhok.”)
“You seem restless.”
(“Lumalabas na ikaw ay nababalisa”)

Presenting reality – offering for
consideration that which is real.
Encouraging description of
perceptions—-Having client describe
his or her view of an event or
experience.
Voicing doubt—gently questioning the
reality client's perceptions
Placing event in time or sequence –
clarifying the relationship of events in
time.
Encouraging comparison—helping
client understand by looking at
similarities and differences. Create
exhaustive list of similarities, then
differences.
Identifying themes- asking patient to
identify recurrent patterns in thoughts,
feelings and behavior.
Summarizing—organizing key issues
that have been discussed
Focusing—concentrating on a single,
important point
Encouraging evaluation—asking client
to appraise the quality of his or her
experiences (discuss one at a time)
“I noticed you had trouble making a decision
about…”
(“Napansin ko na nahihirapan ka na magdesisyon
tungkol
sa…”)
“I know that the voices are real to you, but I don’t
hear them.”
(“Alam ko na ang boses na naririnig mo ay totoo
para sa iyo, pero wala akong naririnig.”)
“I don’t see it the same way.”
(“Hindi ko ito nakikita na gaya ng paningin mo.”)
“What do you think is happening to you right now?”
(“Ano sa palagay mo ang nangyayari sa iyo
ngayon?”)
“What do you think is the issue with your wife?”
(“Ano sa palagay mo ang isyu sa iyong asawa?”)
“Is that the only way to interpret it?”
(“Iyan lang ba ang natatanging paraan upang
bigyang kahulugan ito?”)
“What other conclusion could there be?”
(“Ano pa ang maaring konklusyon o kapupuntahan
nito?”)
“When did you do this?”
(“Kailan mo ginawa ito?”)
“Then what happened?”
(“Pagkatapos, ano nangyari?”)
“What is the connection between…”
(“Ano ang kaugnayan ng…..at….”)
“How does this compare with the last time?”
(“Ano ang pagkakahalintulad nito sa nangyari
noon?”)
“What is different about your feelings today?”
(“Ano ang naiiba sa damdamin mo sa araw na
ito?”)
“What do you do each time you argue with your
wife?”
(“Ano ang ginagawa mo sa tuwing nagtatalo kayo
ng asawa mo?”)
“What feeling do you get when you see your
father?”
(“Ano ang nararamdaman mo kapag nakikita mo
ang iyong ama?”)
“Let see….so far you have said….”
(“Tingnan natin, sa ngayon, ito ang mga nabanggit
mo…”)
“Explain more about…”
(“Ipaliwanag mo nang mas mabuti ang tungkol
sa…”)
“What bothers you about?”
(“Ano ang bumabagabag sa iyo tungkol sa….”)
“So what does all this mean to you?”
(“Ano ang kahulugan nito para sa iyo?”)
“How important is it to change this behavior?”
(“Gaano kahalaga na baguhin ang kilos na ito?”)
Seeking information – seeking to make
clear that which is not meaningful or that which is
vague.
Suggestion collaboration—offering to
work together with the client
Encouraging goal setting - asking
patients to decide on the type of change
needed.
Giving information – making
available the facts that the client
needs.
Reflecting – directing client actions,
thoughts, and feelings back to client.
Encouraging consideration of options
- asking patient to consider the pros
and cons of possible options.
Formulating a plan of action—planning
appropriate resolution of a problem in
graded steps. Always use nouns
instead of pronouns to clarify who is
involved.
NON- THERAPEUTIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUES
Advising—telling the patient what to
solve or how to solve problems
Agreeing—indicating agreement
with client
I’m not sure that I follow.”
(“Hindi ako sigurado kung nasusundan kita”)
“Have I heard you correctly?”
(“Tama ba ang narinig ko?”)
“I can help you understand this better.”
(“ Matutulungan kitang lalong maunawaan ang
bagay na ito.”)
“Let’s see if we can find answer.”
(“Tingnan natin kung may mahahanap tayo na
kasagutan.”)
“What do you think needs to change?”
(“Ano sa tingin mo ang dapat baguhin?”)
“What do you want to do differently?”
(“Ano ang gusto mong gawin naiiba?”)
“I can tell you about your medicines.”
(“Maari kong sabihin ang mga impormasyon
tungkol sa iyong mga gamot.”)
“There are self-help groups available.”
(“Mayroong mga ‘self-help groups na maari mong
salihan.”
Client: “Do you think I should tell the Doctor…?”
(Kliyente: “Sa tingin mo dapat ko nang sabihin sa
doktor?)
Nurse: “Do you think you should?’
(Nars: “Sa tingin mo kailangan?”)
Client: “My brother spends all my money and then
has the nerve to ask for more.”
(Kliyente: “Inubos ng kapatid ko ang pera ko at may
gana pa siyang humingi ulit.”
Nurse: “This causes you to feel angry?”
(Nars: “Ito ba ang dahilan ng galit mo?”)
“Which is the best alternative for you?”
(“Alin ang pinaka mahusay na alternatibo para sa
iyo?”)
“What would work best?
(“Ano ang pinaka mabuting gawin?”)
“What exactly will it take to carry out your plan?”
(“Ano ang mga kinakailangang gawin para
maisakatuparan ang plano mo?”)
“What else do you need to do?”
(“Ano pa ang mga kailangan mong gawin?”)
Nontherapeutic response: "I think you should..." "If
I were you, I'd..."
Therapeutic Response: "Let's put our heads
together and see
how to solve this problem" or
"What have you already done to try to resolve this
situation?"
“I think you should . . .”
“Why don’t you . . . .”
Nontherapeutic responses: "That's right." "I
agree."
Therapeutic responses: "What did you think of

Approval—sanctioning the patient's
ideas or behavior
Belittling feelings
expressed—misjudging the
degree of the client's discomfort
Challenging—demanding proof
Defending—attempting to protect
someone or some-. thing from verbal
attack
Destructive humor—any humor that
belittles, implies guilt or. incompetence,
continually refocuses client on topic
selected by nurse, or is met with client
displeasure
Disagreeing—opposing the client's
Ideas
Disapproving—denouncing the client's
actions, thoughts, feelings, or needs
Fran yelling at you?" or "What part of this argument
did you think was right?"
Nontherapeutic response:
"You were good to have done that..”
"I’m glad that you..."
Therapeutic response:
"Tell me how you think you performed when you
told Lucy you were sorry for hurting her feelings."
"What do you see as the best part of giving a
present to Denise?
Nontherapeutic response: "Everybody gets down
into the dumps." "I've felt that way sometimes."
Therapeutic response: "Tell me about being down
in the dumps." "You have the right to your own
feelings."
Client: “I have nothing to live for . . .I wish I was
dead.”
Nurse: “Everybody gets down in the dumps.” “I’ve
felt that way myself.”
Nontherapeutic response: "But how can you
have
cancer when all your tests are negative?" "Why?"
Therapeutic response' "I hear you saying you are
still concerned that you have cancer. Tell me about
that."
"What went into your choice to break the window?"
Nontherapeutic response: "No one here would lie
to you." "Miss ___ is a very capable nurse."
Therapeutic response: "Who is one person you
think lied to you?" "I can't speak for Miss ___, but I
see you are upset. Tell me your concerns."
“This hospital has a fine reputation.”
“I’m sure your doctor has your best interests in
mind.”
Nontherapeutic responses: "That's wrong." "I
don't believe that."
Therapeutic responses: "What do you think would
happen to you if you jumped off the roof?"
Nontherapeutic responses: "How can you
consider divorce when you have four children?"
"How can having a baby fix your relationship when
you're not even married?"
"That's not living by the Golden Rule." "Get a life."
"Shape up." "You need to start a new relationship."
Therapeutic responses; "What is one reason you
are considering divorce?" "What is one way you
believe having a baby would save your
relationship?" "How do you see

Egocentric focus—occurs in two ways:
1)nurse enjoys being center of attention
and answering questions about self and
winds up being interviewed by the client;
2) nurse is focused on thinking what to
ask next instead of actively processing
client's message.
Giving approval – sanctioning the
client’s behavior or ideas.
Giving literal responses – responding
to figurative comments as though it
were a statement of fact.
Interpreting—seeking to make
conscious that which is unconscious
Introducing an unrelated
topic—changing the subject.
Judging—rejecting the client's actions,
thoughts, or feelings because they do not
agree with your moral code or life
choices.
Using denial—refusing to admit that a
problem exists. Closes off avenue for
discussion.
Probing—persistent questioning of the
client or asking about unrelated topics
Value statements—judging the actions
or feelings of clients and implying they
are good or bad; making biased
statements
yourself handling this problem?”
Nontherapeutic response by nurse: "My
girlfriend and I love to go camping. We have been
to 36 states so far. We dance and make stained
glass, too."
Therapeutic response: "What is one of your
hobbies?”
“That’s good.”
“I’m glad that . . . “
Client: “They’re looking in my head with a television
camera.”
Nurse: “Try not to watch television.”
“What channels?”
Nontherapeutic response: "What you really mean
is..."
"Unconsciously you're saying..,"
Therapeutic responses: "Your conversation
evolves around Sam's getting the scholarship.
What do you think this is about?"
Client: "I wish I were dead."
Nontherapeutic response: "Did you have
visitors?"
Therapeutic responses: "Tell me about wishing
you were dead." "What is going on that you wish to
be dead?"
"Are you planning to commit suicide?"
Nontherapeutic responses: "You don't need to
call your mother at midnight." 'Don't ever let me
hear you are thinking about running away again."
Therapeutic responses; "What's going on that
you feel like running away?" "Your mom says she
gets frightened when you call her at night. Tell me
what you are experiencing so we can work together
on helping you to wait till the morning to call Mom."
Client: "I'm dead."
Nontherapeutic response: "You can't mean that."
Therapeutic responses: "What is one aspect of
yourself that has withered and died?" "What is
going on that you say you are dead?"
Client: "And so my wife and I split up."
Nontherapeutic response: "Now tell me about
your mother."
Therapeutic response: "Tell me about you and
your wife splitting up."
Reassuring—trying to make the client feel better
superficially and not to worry or be anxious
Nontherapeutic responses: "That was good of
you to pour the coffee." "Scary movies upset every-
one." "That must make you feel horrible to hear
your mother does not want you back home."
 Therapeutic responses: "I see you poured the
coffee. Thank you." "What upset you about this
scary movie?" "What was your first response to
hearing your mom did not want you to
move back home?”

References:

Keltner, Norman L., Bostrom,Carol E., McGuiness, Teena M. (2012). Keltner’s Psychiatric Nursing,
(6th ed). Singapore: Mosby Elsevier.

Videbeck, Shiela L. (2010). Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing, (5th ed).

USA: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.