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Techniques of therapeutic communication I: Active Listening, Sharing Observations, Validation, and Using Touch

Techniques of therapeutic communication I: Active Listening, Sharing Observations, Validation, and Using Touch

The history of therapeutic communication can be traced back to Florence Nightingale, who emphasized the importance of developing trusting relationships with patients. She taught that the presence of nurses with patients results in therapeutic healing.
Therapeutic communication is not the same as social interaction. Social interaction has no goal or purpose and consists of casual information sharing, whereas therapeutic communication has a plan or purpose for the conversation. Therapeutic...

Therapeutic Communication

Therapeutic Communication

Communication is a lifelong learning process. Through therapeutic communication, nurses can collect relevant assessment data, provide education and counseling, and interact during nursing interventions. Sending and receiving messages occur through verbal and nonverbal communication techniques and can happen separately or simultaneously.
Verbal communication depends on language or a prescribed way of using words so that people can share information effectively. The critical aspects of verbal...

Techniques of Therapeutic Communication II: Focusing, Paraphrasing, and Summarizing

Techniques of Therapeutic Communication II: Focusing, Paraphrasing, and Summarizing

Focusing involves centering a conversation on a message's critical elements or concepts. Focusing is valuable if the talk is vague or patients begin to repeat themselves. Sometimes, when patients are asked about their symptoms, they may go off-topic and try to tell their entire life story. Respectfully, the nurse should bring the conversation back into focus.
This therapeutic technique can also be used when a patient brings up pertinent information during a health-related conversation. The...

Empathy

Empathy

Some researchers suggest that altruism operates on empathy. Empathy is the capacity to understand another person’s perspective, to feel what he or she feels. An empathetic person makes an emotional connection with others and feels compelled to help (Batson, 1991). Empathy can be expressed in several ways, including cognitive, affective, and motor.

Communication

Communication

Sharing information, concepts, and emotions to foster mutual understanding is communication. The sender, recipient, and transaction must be considered in this manner. The sender is the person who shares the message, the recipient is the person who receives and understands the message, and the transaction is the method used to deliver the message and the variables that affect the communication's context and surroundings. The nurse-client connection is built on therapeutic communication.

Communication

Communication

Communication between two animals occurs when one animal transmits an information signal that causes a change in the animal that receives the information. Organisms communicate with one another in a host of different ways. Signals can be auditory, chemical, visual, tactile, or a combination of these. Communication is a critical behavioral adaptation that promotes survival, growth, and reproduction.

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Development of an empathy and clarity rating scale to measure the effect of medical improv on end-of-first-year OCSE performance: a pilot study.

Medical education online·2019

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Updated: Apr 7, 2026

Using Visual and Narrative Methods to Achieve Fair Process in Clinical Care

Using Visual and Narrative Methods to Achieve Fair Process in Clinical Care

Published on: February 16, 2011

Compassionate Communication Starts with Listening.

Valeri Lantz-Gefroh¹

¹Center for Compassionate Communication, T. Denny Sanford Institute for Empathy and Compassion, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA.

Journal of Patient Experience

|April 6, 2026

Summary

Compassionate communication in healthcare significantly improves patient outcomes and clinician well-being. Prioritizing empathy and attentive listening in patient-centered care is crucial for effective medical practice.

Keywords:

clinician–patient relationship communication faculty development interprofessional leadership medical education patient perspectives/narratives patient/relationship- centered

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Area of Science:

Medical Humanities
Patient Communication
Healthcare Professional Training

Background:

Healthcare communication significantly impacts patient experiences and outcomes.
Personal anecdotes highlight contrasting communication styles in medical settings.
Existing research supports the benefits of compassionate communication.

Purpose of the Study:

To explore the impact of compassionate communication in healthcare through personal experiences.
To underscore the importance of empathy and active listening in patient care.
To advocate for enhanced communication skills training for healthcare professionals.

Main Methods:

Reflective narrative based on personal experiences as a caregiver and teacher.
Analysis of two pivotal patient-oncologist and patient-cardiologist encounters.
Review of research on compassionate communication and its effects.

Main Results:

Empathetic and clear communication leads to better patient understanding and reduced distress.
Impersonal communication causes confusion and distress for patients and families.
Compassionate communication is linked to improved patient outcomes and clinician well-being.

Conclusions:

Attentive listening and empathy are foundational to patient-centered medical care.
Healthcare professionals require training in compassionate communication skills.
A renewed focus on human connection enhances the effectiveness of medical practice.