How to improve communication with the patient?

Communication is a key element of the therapeutic process: it depends on it that the symptoms are adequately explored, that the hypothesis about the cause of the problem is adjusted to reality, and that the patient understands what is happening and adopts measures to improve health and prevention adequate.

However, knowing how to communicate correctly in the context of therapy is as complex as it is valuable, partly because it is not based on theoretical learning but on "soft skills" and skills put into practice. But even in the cases in which the professional encounters serious problems in properly managing communication with the patients, it is always possible to learn and find the right dynamics to "connect" with those seeking medical help or psychological.

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Keys to improve the dynamics of communication with the patient in therapy

These strategies and tips are useful in any form of therapeutic intervention, but especially in the case of psychotherapy, where a good part of the The services offered are linked to the emission and reception of ideas and to the establishment of a climate of trust in which to express oneself honestly about the problem at hand. treat. In any case, they are general recommendations that must be adapted to each situation and context, since one of the keys to communication is precisely flexibility, as we will see.

1. Makes clear the confidentiality of the information provided in the sessions

Beyond the regulations by law and the delivery of information in writing, it is important eliminate all doubts and possible reasons for concern with which the patient may arrive at the consultation regarding their privacy. In this way, your approach to therapy will be more favorable from the beginning.

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2. Use humor at strategic moments

Humor is a very good way to release tension, and helps to make the patient not assume that because the topic being discussed (health) is serious, the whole conversation must be very serious too. In addition, it is a sample of humane treatment that makes patients adopt a more active attitude and involved in the conversation, so that he does not limit himself to responding concisely to the questions that are put to him and that he dares to express his own observations and concerns.

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3. Use non-verbal language to set the tone you want to create

Through non-verbal language it is possible to contribute to setting the rhythms of dialogue and generating an environment with a certain emotional charge.. This also involves knowing how to analyze the patient's gestures, postures and paralanguage elements, in order to understand how they feel. In this sense, one of the most used strategies is to slightly imitate the posture and movements so that it does the same with us and create one of the first forms of connection between the two and, little by little, lead him towards the style of non-verbal language that interests us.

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4. Do not forget that the context affects the meaning of the words

Some professionals make the mistake of assuming that the context only influences emotions, how the therapist and the patient feel. For example, the colors that predominate on the walls of the practice can influence the mood, and in the same way, it is not It is the same to speak in a spacious room with natural lighting than in a narrow room without windows, in which the voice resonates through the walls.

However, the truth is that the context also influences the cognitive aspect, and specifically, in the way in which the ideas and expressions of the other are interpreted. The same phrase can be understood as a reason to rejoice or as a joke depending on the time and place in which it is said. Keeping this in mind is key, especially since patients with certain disorders or problems they are especially predisposed to adopt a very pessimistic perspective when analyzing what is presented to them. it says.

5. Fluency must prevail over perfectionism

It's not worth trying to get everything perfect when communicating with the patient; trying it will only lead to stress and nervousness, because we will overanalyze every word we say. Fortunately, in the same way that the context modifies the interpretation of what the other says, the actions carried out a posteriori will also cause the patient to "rewrite" his or her interpretation of the facts, so that apologizing, correcting or clarifying right after we realize that we have explained ourselves poorly will serve to remedy the situation in most cases. of the cases.

Thus, always prioritize the objective of giving rise to fluid conversations and if you make a mistake, simply rectify it on the spot. After all, even if we don't think about it, day by day we expose ourselves to multiple errors of this type, to the point of that many times we do not even recognize them as such and we assume that they are part of the nature of communication in time real.

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6. Use the silences in favor of the therapy session

Giving rise to fluid conversations does not mean avoiding silence at all costs. On the contrary, in the context of therapy, these must be present, since the information handled is important and at the same time it is possible that several of the issues that arise are personal and require an effort of honesty. In addition, patients usually quickly learn that it is normal in therapy for silences to be somewhat longer than in therapy. any everyday conversation, and when they feel pressured to respond quickly, they accept it willingly and stop thinking On it.

In any case, do not forget that silences are not only the absence of words due to a limitation (for example, the lack of time to know what to say next): they can also be deliberately created as a communication tool. They serve, among other things, to emphasize the most important ideas that will be worked on in the session, and also to provide the sessions with a determined rhythm at certain times (they can even be integrated into strategies to promote relaxation and openness to exchange communicative).

7. Bad news must be communicated clearly from the beginning

It is not necessary to fall into lengthening too much in the explanations of something anxiogenic that we believe will affect the patient a lot; Doing this will contribute to your not understanding or forgetting fundamental aspects, because if your emotions overwhelm you in a moment when the important thing has not yet been told to him, he may not be in a position to understand it or pay attention.

8. Use the examples (which may be based on you)

It is very common for the concepts used by professionals in psychotherapy to be so complex that the patient does not understand them. That is why examples are valuable: in addition to serving to illustrate what is meant, offer a narrative structure of beginning, middle and end which makes it easy to memorize. Also, if they are based on you (or a fictional version of you) they can help create therapeutic rapport.

Do you want to learn more about communication applied to therapy?

If you are interested in training in communication skills for therapists, the course "University expert in communication with the patient, difficult situations and emotional intelligence" offered by European University is for you. This online training program is especially suitable for health professionals such as psychologists, doctors, physiotherapists, nutritionists or nurses; It starts on April 26, 2022 and has a duration of 6 months. It includes masterclasses with professionals specialized in the subject, monitoring and personalized evaluation by the teaching team, downloadable and video material, and more. Upon completion, students obtain a Degree issued by the European University of Madrid.