¶ … Therapeutic Relationships in Mental Health
Journal Summary Assignment
Complete this m andatory assignment.
SAVE it as docx
SUBMIT
it to your instructor from BLACKBOARD.
Review your journal entries with the aim of analyzing your learning.
Assess your development of therapeutic communication skills.
a) Analyze your own knowledge base: what areas are clear for you and which are fuzzy and need more work?
Type or paste your analysis below. You can add more space to each simply by continuing to type. You can remove unneeded white space by deleting it if you wish.
These areas of the knowledge base/these communication skills are clear to me: Listening skills, nonverbal messaging, empathetic understanding, understandable language, caring helper, genuineness.
I want to work more on these areas of the knowledge base or these skills:
Self-Reflection / self-analysis.
b) Determine how your understanding of the knowledge base guides your use of communication skills.
I apply my knowledge of therapeutic relationships and therapeutic communication by:
As a care aid, it is extremely important that I sincerely listen to those who need my help. Avoiding inserting my personal feelings and treating each situation in terms of what is best for the patient. Listening is the most important skill available to help make communication smooth and easy. Knowledge is only useful when it is properly applied.
Therapeutic Relationships in Mental Health: Journal Summary Assignment Page 1
Specific examples of my use of each therapeutic communication skill:
THERAPEUTIC
COMMUNICATION
SKILL
Situation/Context
Brief description of what is going on Client Response
Verbal & non-verbal communication before & after your communication skill
My Response
Exact verbal & non-verbal
Analysis
Based on the client's response, how effective was your skill? Provide an alternate response here prn.
Type or paste your analysis below. You can add more space to each section simply by continuing to type. You can remove unneeded white space by deleting it if you wish.
1. WARMTH/
ATTENDING
A patient needs assitance in walking.
A verbal request or other non-verbal request.
-painful face
Immediate and with care and a delicate hand.
-smile
-delicate touch
Very effective, not a difficult skill to practice.
2. RESPECT
My supervisor makes a request I disagree with.
"Please stay late and help with extra duty"
-frustrated body posture
Although I didn't want to I explained my position but volunteered my time.
-smile, do not be disgruntled
Moderately effective. I could have proposed an alternate...
EMPATHY
A Co worker wanted to change duties with me.
"Would you like to change ?"
-smile
-relaxed posture
"Yes, I am looking to change some work in the future and if I help you will you help me?"
-smile
Instead of trading, I should have simply accepted the request with no conditions demonstrating even more empathy.
4. QUESTIONING/
CLARIFYING
A patient wanting to know about the details of a particular treatment.
"What is this doing for my health?"
-smile
-inquisitive posture
Explaining the exact purpose of the treatment along with side effects.
-sitting down, explaining posture
Clarifying questions is useful at putting the client at ease and performing your job simpler.
5. CONCRETENESS
The demanding work schedule I must often go through.
"It is necessary to work hard every day and be consistently available."
-concerned facial expression
"Gladly"
-smile
-demonstrate that I understand
This is generally not a problem for me as I am solid and reliable in almost all cases.
6. SELF-DISCLOSURE
Patients asking me my personal opinion on a subject I do not want to discuss.
"How do you feel..."
-questioning face
-relaxed posture
"I am not sure, how do you feel... "
-questioning face
Deflecting the question about self-disclosure back to the asker is useful in not disclosing info about myself. This is a weakness for me.
7. GENUINENESS
Supervisor asking how many hours I worked for a time period.
"What did you do last week?"
-questioning face
"I worked my required hours"
-assertive posture
Lying does not pay off. Doing the right thing at work will allow the people who you care for an example to live by in their own healing.
8. IMMEDIACY
A patient had a medical emergency requiring immediate additional care.
"I think I might be dying"
-troubled face
-shaking body
"I will get help now!"
-notified family and emergency medical technicians.
The patient was having anxiety issues but I believe I handled the situation with immediate care.
9. CARING
CONFRONTATION
A fellow co worker violated policy.
"I am not going to do this procedure anymore"
-resolute disdain
"I would encourage you to follow the guidelines otherwise everyone will be hurt."
-pleading posture
The coworkers was in a moment of weakness and through my confrontation it resolved the situation.
c) Identify areas of your growth and learning for EACH communication skill presented…
