Improving Therapeutic Communication

Throughout the book, the authors focus on the basic skills that facilitate communications in therapy (empathy, respect, authenticity, relating in the here-and-now, and confrontation) and explore specific methods of using them. These skills--which research shows are crucial to effective therapy--enable therapists and counselors to * Empathize in a caring way with the feelings of clients * Become receptive to clients in a warm, respectful, and nonjudgmental way * Constructively share feelings with clients in a natural, open manner * Therapeutically utilize moment-to-moment, here-and-now interaction * Make clients aware of their inconsistencies and discrepancies without arousing antagonism or defensiveness

Improving Communication in Mental Health Settings draws on empirical studies of real-world settings to demonstrate contemporary practice-based evidence, providing effective strategies for communicating with patients/clients in mental health settings. The book integrates clinical experience and language-based evidence drawn from qualitative research. Drawing on studies that utilize scientific language-based approaches such as discourse and conversation analysis, it focuses on social interaction between professionals and patients/clients to demonstrate effective communication practices. Chapters are led by clinical professionals and feature a range of mental health settings, different mental health conditions and types of patient/client, and evidence-based recommendations. This book is an essential guide for professionals working in mental health and/or social work, and those training or working in clinical areas of mental health practice.

This volume deals with universal processes of therapeutic communication, a term which covers whatever exchange goes on between people who have a therapeutic intent, with an emphasis upon the empirical observation of the communicative process. -- Preface.

This new textbook is designed to provide students with all the necessary tools to effectively communicate with patients and other health care professionals. With its easy-to-read style, it is loaded with useful tips to help students engage into the practice of communication. It presents condensed amounts of content for learning the basic principles and then integrating elements such as case scenarios, questions, or hints and tips to encourage application of those principles into real-life situations. Easy-to-read style provides practical information, hints, and tips. Test Your Communication IQ boxes provide students with a short self-assessment test at the beginning of each chapter. Spotlight on Future Success boxes provide students with useful, practical tips for improving communication. Taking the Chapter to Work boxes integrated within each chapter are actual case examples with useful tips to guide students to practice and apply what they have learned. Beyond the Classroom Activities exercises at the end of each chapter help students use knowledge learned from topics presented in the chapter. Check Your Comprehension exercises at the end of each chapter provide questions and activities to test student knowledge of chapter content. Communication Surfer Exercises focus on helping students utilize Internet resources to improve their knowledge and application of communication skills. Expanding Critical Thinking at the end of each chapter provides students with additional questions or activities designed to apply critical thinking skills. Legal Eagle boxes provide useful tips that focus on honesty, as well as ethical and legal communication between patients and health care workers. Unique, interactive CD-ROM, packaged with the textbook, includes a variety of application exercises, such as voice mail messages, patient/caregiver interviews, chapter key points, and patient charts. Audio segments on the CD-ROM provide communication in action to help students observe verbal communication examples and apply their skills.

The Second Edition of Herschel Knapp’s Therapeutic Communication: Developing Professional Skills provides beginners and seasoned professionals with the skills to navigate the facts and feelings endemic to professional therapeutic communication. With a comprehensive perspective, Dr. Knapp clearly and effectively explains differences between casual and therapeutic relationships, focusing on key elements such as the therapeutic process, social and emotional factors, and professionalism. Organized into discrete sections to highlight individual skills, each chapter follows a unified format, encouraging readers to apply their knowledge frequently. “Students often struggle with core concepts related to therapy. This book takes those struggles and clears up any doubts about the basics and guides them toward becoming experts in their field.” —Daniel Velazquez, Cetys Universidad “Whether you’re a therapist or a high school counselor, the skills outlined and described in [this book] are paramount to the success of any helping relationship.” —Lisa Clark Keith, Fresno Pacific University “I was inspired by Dr. Knapp’s ability to capture the emotions, techniques, and skills necessary to have a successful helping relationship in an easy to follow manner . . . the text takes the reader from the beginning to the end of a counseling relationship seamlessly . . . Students will find the straightforward nature of the book a staple of their professional library. This is the type of text you keep close at hand throughout your professional career.” —Shawn P. Parmanand, Walden University

`This book encourages all those working with children with speech, language and communication needs to develop their creativity within a model of child-centred reflective practice, acknowledging that our interaction with children has an effect at many different levels. Therapists, teachers, teaching assistants and parents will find a wealth of practical suggestions and a solid foundation of research within these pages.' Mary Hampton, Chair, Association of Speech and Language Therapists in Independent Practice (ASLTIP), UK For many children, the act of communication that most of us take for granted can be a struggle, and communicating with others can become something to fear rather than enjoy. This creative book is full of fun and imaginative ideas to help children aged 4-11 with a speech or language delay or disorder to develop their communication abilities and skills. It is packed with activities and games tailored to help develop abilities such as effective listening, imagination and perseverance, and to build specific skills such as formulation of questions, categorising, taking turns and understanding non-verbal communication. Tips for personalising and shaping the activities are provided. A comprehensive theory section also covers how play can be a therapeutic tool for enhancing communication, and how to structure the emotional environment. Practical advice on working with groups and individuals and in different settings is also given. This activity book is an invaluable resource not only for speech and language therapists and students, but also for parents, teachers, carers and other support staff who are looking for creative ways to promote speech and language development. Deborah M. Plummer is a speech and language therapist and imagework practitioner with over 20 years' experience of facilitating groups and working individually with both children and adults. Formerly a clinical lead therapist working within the NHS, she now lectures at De Montfort University, Leicester, and runs workshops and short courses on the uses of imagery and story-telling and issues of self-esteem. Deborah is author of several titles, including Helping Children to Cope with Change, Stress and Anxiety: A Photocopiable Activities Book, Helping Children to Build Self-Esteem: A Photocopiable Activities Book, 2nd edition, Self-Esteem Games for Children, Social Skills Games for Children, Helping Adolescents and Adults to Build Self-Esteem: A Photocopiable Resource Book, and Anger Management Games for Children, all published by Jessica Kingsley Publishers. Deborah's website can be found at www.deborahplummer.co.uk.

Professional and Therapeutic Communication focuses on the professional approaches to communication and the therapeutic elements of the caring relationship. It provides a contemporary and practical approach to fundamental concepts, with an emphasis on creating learning-centred working environments, through which students may explore the variety of situations in which communication with patients, relatives and colleagues occur in the clinical environment. The text is structured to give consideration to a lifespan focus, with attention to communication through verbal, non-verbal and written means. Special attention is given to the unique advantages and challenges that accompany the growth of communication through electronic systems.

This is a Pageburst digital textbook; This new textbook is designed to provide students with all the necessary tools to effectively communicate with patients and other health care professionals. With its easy-to-read style, it is loaded with useful tips to help students engage into the practice of communication. It presents condensed amounts of content for learning the basic principles and then integrating elements such as case scenarios, questions, or hints and tips to encourage application of those principles into real-life situations. Easy-to-read style provides practical information, hints, and tips. Test Your Communication IQ boxes provide students with a short self-assessment test at the beginning of each chapter. Spotlight on Future Success boxes provide students with useful, practical tips for improving communication. Taking the Chapter to Work boxes integrated within each chapter are actual case examples with useful tips to guide students to practice and apply what they have learned. Beyond the Classroom Activities exercises at the end of each chapter help students use knowledge learned from topics presented in the chapter. Check Your Comprehension exercises at the end of each chapter provide questions and activities to test student knowledge of chapter content. Communication Surfer Exercises focus on helping students utilize Internet resources to improve their knowledge and application of communication skills. Expanding Critical Thinking at the end of each chapter provides students with additional questions or activities designed to apply critical thinking skills. Legal Eagle boxes provide useful tips that focus on honesty, as well as ethical and legal communication between patients and health care workers. Unique, interactive CD-ROM, packaged with the textbook, includes a variety of application exercises, such as voice mail messages, patient/caregiver interviews, chapter key points, and patient charts. Audio segments on the CD-ROM provide communication in action to help students observe verbal communication examples and apply their skills.