iher"peutic InterPersonal

Tt@
Examples

Therapeutic Technique

Using silence
Giving recognition or acknowledging
0ftering self
Giving

iroad

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

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

"l'll walk with You for

questions
openings or asking open-ended

Oftering general leads or "door openers"

a while."

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

"How do You feol aboutthat?"
interest'
lNodding one's head occasionally to show
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?'

Placing the event in time or in sequence

Making observations
perceptions
Encouraging description ol

"Hovu d0 you teel when you take

your medication?"

"Has this ever haPPened before?"

"What does this resemble?"

Encouraging comParison

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

Restating

Alarse: You can't sleeP at night.

Rellecting

Client:lthink I should take my medication'

your medication?
/Vurse: You think you should take

Focusing on sPecifics

"This topic seems worth discussing in more depth"'

"Give me an example of what you mean'"

,.Tellmemoreaboutyouriob.Wouldyoudescribeyourresponsihilities?,'
Exploring

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

"l'm going with you on the tield trip, as I promised'"
give me mgrg
,,1,m
iot sure that I understand what you aro saying. Please

Giving information or informing

Clarilying or seekin g clarif ication

information."

"l

Presenting reality or conf ronhtion

people are all patients or

see no strangers or spies in the room' These

hosPihlstafi."

I am a nurse'"
a hospital, and you are a patient here' And
you
said?"
as
happen
iust
"l find that hard to believe. Did it
your
medication"'
"Describe how you teel about taking
your feelings?"
"Does participaiing in group therapy help you discuss

"This
Voicing doubt
Encouraging evaluation or evaluating

il

the implied
Attempting to translate into feetings or verbalizing

Ctient: l'memPtY and numb'

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

Suggesting collaboration

you're not sure of Your feelings?

plan your
"Perhaps you and your social worker can work together to
tiving anangements after your discharge'"
past hour we talked about your plans for the future' They
"During the
include the following."
you have?"
"lf this situation occurs again, what options do
"How do you feel about your hospitalization?"

Summarizing

'.'

Encouraging formulation of a plan of action

Asking direct questions

,I

"How do You see Your Progress?"

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The NursinEProcess

Grrtn"rrpeutic InterPer$onal Techniques With Examples

IontharaPeutic Technique

Eramples

Reassuring (falselY)

"l wouldn't worry about that now."

"Evefihing will be all right."

Giving unwarranted aPProval

Hejecting

Disapproving unnecessarilY

"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."

Agreeing against better iudgmBnt

"That's right."
agree with you."

"l
Disagreeing unneces$arily

"That's wrong."

"l definitely disagree with that."

"l don't believe that."
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

"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.

Making stereotyped comments

(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."

Giving literal responses

"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?
lgnoring the client's feelings or thoughts

Client: l'm nothing.

lnterpreting

Nurse:01course you're something. Everybody is somebody.

"What you really mean is that you're somebody special."
"Unconsciously you're saying this."

lntroducing an unrelated topic

(ignoring client's message)

Client: l'd like to die.

Alurse: Did you have visitors this weekend?