Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Communication
Therapeutic communication can be very effective in dealing with troubled children.
Occasionally we might make a verbal intervention during a troubled moment and
find that the child calms down very quickly. If only this were more frequent. Here
are some very simple but valuable guidelines in therapeutic communication. They
are simple but not always easy to implement. Being a non-directive listener means
letting go of one's own issues, needs, belief systems etc. while listening. If you've
any comments to add, or have that one beautiful intervention that works
magic...please share it. Email me and I'll add any recieved to this page.
Giving broad-openings
Go on
And then
Tell me about it
To help with awareness of feelings, encourage verbalization of feelings, conveys concern and
interest.
Using silence, offering-self
Gives the speaker opportunity to reflect upon, then speak about feelings.
Clarifying
Voicing what the speaker seems to imply rather than what was said. Verifying your impressions
may help the speaker become more aware of their feelings.
Exploring
Encourages the speaker to expand upon their remarks or problems. To aid the speaker in seeing
problems more clearly and encouraging examination of these problems and hopefully working
towards a solution.
Summarizing
To attempt to dispel the speaker's anxiety by implying that there is not sufficient reason for it to
exist is to completely devaluate the other's own feelings. Blocks expressing further feelings.
Giving Approval
That's good.
I'm glad that you...
Colluding the other's ideas or behaviour that may stop further, deeper insights.
Rejecting
Imposes one's values on person. Communicates that what speaker said is not acceptable. Will
make speaker feel defensive, blocks communication.