Reflection on Therapeutic Communication in Holistic Nursing

Definition of Therapeutic Communication in Holistic Nursing

Therapeutic communication in relationship-based, holistic nursing practice is an intentional and caring interaction that heals the entire person—body, mind, and spirit. Besides sharing new knowledge, it builds a strong emotional bond between the nurse and the patient (Mersha et al., 2023). In holistic nursing, therapeutic communication is grounded in presence, empathy, and trust. It uses centering, intuition, being grounded, and caring to both support better communication and boost patients’ emotional and spiritual health. It begins by respecting the role of the patient in their own care and takes the nurse-patient relationship to be very important: Reflection on Therapeutic Communication in Holistic Nursing.

Nurse-Patient Encounter Using Therapeutic Communication

One meaningful encounter in my practice involved a 56-year-old woman recently diagnosed with stage IV ovarian cancer. When I saw her for the first time, she was crying and felt too overwhelmed to open up. I stood just near her door, took deep breaths, and let go of anything on my mind. I promised myself that I would truly listen to her and fully support her.

As I walked toward my patient’s bed, I took a moment to calm down by refocusing my attention on what was right now. I took a seat beside her, made sure I maintained gentle eye contact with her, and let my silence give her the time to sort things out.

Slowly, she began to talk about her worries, such as what her diagnosis meant, her family, and the time ahead. I kept quiet and replied with statements like, “It’s normal to worry about that.” I’m right beside you.

This interchange showed signs of important methods in therapeutic communication: centering, setting a purpose, being caring, and being supportive. I realized that her emotional state was more important than checking if she understood my clinical responses. At the end of our interactions, she said she felt more peaceful, which proved to me once again how much a good nurse can do (Sharma & Gupta, 2023). I learned that making patients feel welcome emotionally, which means providing privacy and discretion, is crucial for full care.

Nurse-Patient Encounter Where Communication Could Be Improved

In contrast, I recall a case in which I could have communicated more effectively. A 19-year-old male patient was admitted due to complications of uncontrolled Type 1 diabetes. He appeared closed off, hostile, and resistant to learning about insulin therapy. Unfortunately, I spoke to him in a task-oriented manner, driven to get through patient teaching rather than attending to his emotional state.

In retrospect, I see that I didn’t center, ground, or set an intention prior to the meeting. I missed an opportunity to reach him at a human level. I would have understood, using transcendent presence and intuition, that his actions were driven by fear and frustration rather than stubbornness. Rather than forging ahead with a checklist, I might have begun with something such as, “What’s been the most difficult part about coping with this for you?”

If I had emotionally centered myself and spoken with him from a position of curiosity and compassion, I would have been able to create a safe space for him to disclose. I would initiate such discussions now with empathy and mindfulness, using therapeutic silence and active listening to explore his concerns and acknowledge his experience (Babaii et al., 2021). These skills are essential in building openness and trust, especially with young patients who are facing new and overwhelming diagnoses.

Conclusion

Therapeutic communication is the core of holistic nursing and can profoundly impact the nurse-patient relationship. When communicated therapeutically, it encourages trust, emotional healing, and increased insight. The skills that I learned at the National Holistic Nursing Conference—grounding, setting an intention, caring, presence, and intuition—are great techniques to incorporate into my practice.

Reflecting on both missed and successful opportunities makes me a more effective professional and reminds me of the importance of being fully present for every patient. It also reminds me that communication is not just a skill but a therapeutic act that is grounded in compassion and respect for the human spirit.

References

Babaii, A., Mohammadi, E., & Sadooghiasl, A. (2021). The meaning of the empathetic nurse–patient communication: A qualitative study. Journal of Patient Experience, 8. https://doi.org/10.1177/23743735211056432

Mersha, A., Abera, A., Tesfaye, T., Abera, T., Belay, A., Melaku, T., Shiferaw, M., Shibiru, S., Estifanos, W., & Wake, S. K. (2023). Therapeutic communication and its associated factors among nurses working in public hospitals of Gamo zone, southern Ethiopia: Application of Hildegard Peplau’s nursing theory of interpersonal relations. BMC Nursing, 22(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12912-023-01526-z

Sharma, N. P., & Gupta, V. (2023, August 2). Therapeutic communication. StatPearls – NCBI Bookshelf. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK567775/

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Scenario

While attending the National Holistic Nursing Conference, you participated in a workshop that introduced the therapeutic communication techniques listed below and discussed how to apply them in nursing practice.

• Setting an intention
• Centering
• Grounding
• Caring
• Healing
• Transcendent presence
• Intuition

When concluding the day’s activities, the presenters asked you to reflect on the professional experiences you have had with patients and to document that reflection in a journal entry.

Reflection on Therapeutic Communication in Holistic Nursing

Instructions

Write a journal entry that addresses the following:

1. Using your own words, define therapeutic communication in relationship-centered, holistic nursing care.
2. Describe at least 1 nurse-patient encounter where you applied effective therapeutic communication skills in your role as a nurse. Identify which of the therapeutic communication techniques you used and explain how you employed them.
3. Describe at least 1 nurse-patient encounter where you could have communicated more effectively in your role as a nurse through the application of therapeutic communication techniques. Identify which of the therapeutic communication techniques you would use and explain how you would employ them.

Notes:

• NO AI USE AT ALL
• No Falsifying of Resources/References/Citations