How to Share Information Therapeutically

1. Offer information - don't impose it.

Though you may not agree with the patents plan or lack of a plan, to be therapeutic you must
not insist on your ideas. To do so will most likely cause resistance by the client to continue to
engage with you.

2. Find out if the client wants the information before you give it.

In situations where a client may as you "what do you think". Best to reply with " I would be
happy to share my thoughts with you, but first I am interested in what your ideas are." This
prevents a patient either planning to ignore your advice anyway, and increases empowerment
for the patient that they are able to manage their life.

3. Ask permission esp. if the client has not asked for the information

Our ideas are only helpful if or client wants to hear them. Statements such as " I have some
ideas that might be helpful" ( now silence)

4. Provide information in the context of other clients

Comments such as " in my work with clients such as yourself many clients find ......helps in
these situations". This type of comments helps the client to feel that they are not the only one
in a situation, and that you are not "picking on them'. It decreases resistance to change.

5. Give client implicit or explicit permission to disagree with you

"this may not be of concern to you "

"I do not know if this makes sense to you"

"you may not agree with me"

These types of statement ensure we are not telling the patient what to do or think - but instead
are sharing ides they can take or leave.

6. Use a menu of options

Most problems have more than one option for resolution. A sample statement may be " some
clients find that A is helpful, or B or C. Which of these options makes sense to you ?"

7. Use client statements

Much like a reflecting statement. an example may be "You are worried about XXXX, but feel
discouraged as lifestyle changes have been hard for you in the past"

8. Give information that is factual or normative - not just opinion

A few statistics or client norms help the client feel that "they" are not the problem, their
situation or health challenge is. i.e. .Your last Blood pressure reading was 150/90 and today it is
200/100.

9. Invite client to decide what the information means to them

We do not draw conclusions at to what is going on with the client or what our information
means to the client. It is better for the client to determine the implications of both the health
situation and available options - or continuing with no plan.