Which is an example of therapeutic communication?

Therapeutic communication encourages clients to express thoughts and feelings, helps them work through issues, and supports the nurse-client relationship. Key techniques: (1) Open-ended questions/statements — invite elaboration ('Tell me more...', 'How are you feeling about...?'); (2) Active listening — full attention, eye contact, nodding, reflective responses; (3) Reflecting/restating — 'You're saying that you feel anxious about the surgery'; (4) Clarifying — 'Help me understand what you mean by...'; (5) Silence — allows the client to think and respond at their own pace; (6) Acknowledgment — 'I notice you've been quiet today'; (7) Focusing — 'You mentioned pain earlier — tell me more'; (8) Offering self — 'I'll sit with you for a while'. Non-therapeutic responses to avoid: (1) False reassurance ('Don't worry, everything will be fine') — dismisses feelings and may not be true; (2) Giving advice ('You should...') — disempowers the client; (3) Judgmental statements ('That's a bad decision'); (4) Probing ('Why did you do that?') — defensive; (5) Changing the subject; (6) Closed questions that limit response; (7) Disagreeing or arguing; (8) Approving/disapproving — shifts focus to nurse's evaluation. The therapeutic relationship is the foundation of all nursing care; communication skills are tested throughout the NCLEX.