# Therapeutic Communication --- **Therapeutic communication** is a specific type of interpersonal [[communication]] that takes place in health care settings between the care providers and their patients and families, and is a good tool to build a rapport with the patients. This method of communication allows effective collaboration as these groups discus and reach consensus on everything day-to-day care, [[health decisions|decide on goals]] and plan treatments, reach consensus, and evaluate outcomes. Therapeutic communication is *client-centered*: clients *expect* to be listened to, involved in their care, and be able to be the final decision maker for their care plan. Bridges to patient relationships: - Respect - Caring - Empowerment - Trust - Empathy - Mutuality - Veracity Successful therapeutic communication relies many techniques such as: - active listening - choosing the right (types of) questions - therapeutic use of self (see below) - being reliable/building trust - making observations - summarizing ## Therapeutic Use of Self A **therapeutic use of self** is a technique used in [[therapeutic communication]] where the nurse uses their own understanding and awareness of their *own* [[self-concept|personality]], knowledge and positionality to engage with their patient in a way that builds rapport and ultimately leads to healing. Although typically in therapeutic communication self-disclosure is to be avoided (in part in order to maintain professional boundaries), selective self-disclosure can be swiftly and authentically build rapport. It can be used as a way to buffer the inherent [[positionality]] differential between nurse and patient. Therapeutic use of self is not to be confused with the nurse over-sharing, or venting to their patient, but is used for the patient's benefit. >[!tip] Timing is everything >A key aspect to successfully using this technique is determining what is clinically appropriate for the patient—what is good for one patient could be harmful for another. ___