iher"peutic InterPersonal Tt@Examples

Therapeutic Technique

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Using silence

Giving recognition or acknowledging

0ftering self

Giving iroad openings or asking open-ended questions

Oftering general leads or "door openers"

Placing the event in time or in sequence

Making observations

Encouraging description ol perceptions

Encouraging comParison

Restating

Rellecting

Focusing on sPecifics

Exploring

Giving information or informing

Clarilying or seekin g clarif ication

Presenting reality or conf ronhtion

Voicing doubt

Encouraging evaluation or evaluating

Attempting to translate into feetings or verbalizing the implied

Suggesting collaboration

Summarizing

Encouraging formulation of a plan of action

Asking direct questions

"Yes, that must have been difficult for you"'

.l noticed that you've made your bed."

"l'll walk with You for a while."

"ls there something you'd like to do?"

"How do You feol aboutthat?"

lNodding one's head occasionally to show interest'

1"Go on."I "You were saying...?"

"When did Your nervousness begin?"

"What happened iust before you came to the hospital?

"l nolice that You're trembling'"

"You seem to be angry."

"What does the voice that you hear seem to be saying?'

"Hovu d0 you teel when you take your medication?"

"Has this ever haPPened before?"

"What does this resemble?"

Ctient:lcan't sleep. I stay awake all night'

Alarse: You can't sleeP at night.

Client:lthink I should take my medication'

/Vurse: You think you should take your medication?

"This topic seems worth discussing in more depth"'

"Give me an example of what you mean'",.Tellmemoreaboutyouriob.Wouldyoudescribeyourresponsihilities?,'

"Her name is Dr. Jones, and she is a psychiairist'"

"l'm going with you on the tield trip, as I promised'"

,,1,m iot sure that I understand what you aro saying. Please give me mgrg

information."

"l see no strangers or spies in the room' These people are all patients or

hosPihlstafi.""This il a hospital, and you are a patient here' And I am a nurse'"

"l find that hard to believe. Did it happen iust as you said?"

"Describe how you teel about taking your medication"'

"Does participaiing in group therapy help you discuss your feelings?"

Ctient: l'memPtY and numb'

IVurse; Are you saying that you're not {eeling anything right now' or

you're not sure of Your feelings?

"Perhaps you and your social worker can work together to plan your

tiving anangements after your discharge'"

"During the past hour we talked about your plans for the future' They

include the following."

"lf this situation occurs again, what options do you have?"

"How do you feel about your hospitalization?"

"How do You see Your Progress?"

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The NursinEProcess

Grrtn"rrpeutic InterPer$onal Techniques With Examples

IontharaPeutic Technique Eramples

Reassuring (falselY)

Giving unwarranted aPProval

Hejecting

Disapproving unnecessarilY

Agreeing against better iudgmBnt

Disagreeing unneces$arily

Advising without giving alternatives

Probing for nontherapeutic reasons

Challenging

Testing unnecessarily

Defending

Requesting an explanation

lndicating the existence of an external source

Belittling expressed feelings

Making stereotyped comments

Giving literal responses

lgnoring the client's feelings or thoughts

lnterpreting

:

lntroducing an unrelated topic(ignoring client's message)

"l wouldn't worry about that now."

"Evefihing will be all right.""You're coming along fine.""lt sounds good to me.""l'm glad that you did that.""Let's not discuss that right now,""l don't want to hear about that.""fhat's bad."

"l'd rather you wouldn't.""That's right.""l agree with you."

"That's wrong.""l definitely disagree with that.""l don't believe that.""l think you should do this.""Why don't you do that?""Now tell me about your sex life.""Tell me your life history.'"But how can you possibly be president of the United States?""lf you're dead, how come you're talking?""What day is this?""Do you know what kind of a hospital this is?""Do you still have the idea that you're president?""This hospital has a fine reputation.""No one here would ever lie to you."

"Dr. B. is a very able psychiatrist. I'm sure that he has your welfare in mind when he did that.""Why do you think that?""Why do you feel this way?""Why did you do that?""What rnakes you say that?'"Who told you that you were Jesus?"'What made you do that?'Client: I have nothing to live for....l wish I was dead.

A/urse: Everybody gets down in the dumps. (or) l've felt that way sometimes."Nice weather we're having."

"l'm fine, and how are you?""lt's for your own good.""Keep your chin up.""Just listen to your doctor and join the activities. you'll be home in n0 time.,,Client:l'm the Wizard of 02.

/Uurse.'You dont look like him. He's much older than you.

ClientThose people on television are talking to me.

Nurse:fry not to watch television. (or/ 0n which channel?Client: l'm nothing.

Nurse:01course you're something. Everybody is somebody."What you really mean is that you're somebody special.""Unconsciously you're saying this."Client: l'd like to die.

Alurse: Did you have visitors this weekend?