Which statement demonstrates therapeutic communication?

Which statement demonstrates therapeutic communication?

• A. You should try to relax.
• B. The problem is probably stress.
• C. Tell me more about your concerns.
• D. Let's fix this now.

Answer: (C)

Therapeutic communication invites the patient to share more about their experience in their own words. Saying “Tell me more about your concerns” uses an open-ended prompt that shows genuine interest, encourages the patient to express thoughts and feelings, and helps you gather meaningful information without judgment. This approach builds trust and supports collaborative problem-solving. The other options move away from patient-centered listening: “You should try to relax” offers unsolicited advice and minimizes what the patient is experiencing; “The problem is probably stress” labels the issue and makes assumptions, which can shut down conversation; “Let’s fix this now” shifts quickly to solving the problem without exploring the patient’s perspective or feelings.

Therapeutic communication invites the patient to share more about their experience in their own words. Saying “Tell me more about your concerns” uses an open-ended prompt that shows genuine interest, encourages the patient to express thoughts and feelings, and helps you gather meaningful information without judgment. This approach builds trust and supports collaborative problem-solving.

The other options move away from patient-centered listening: “You should try to relax” offers unsolicited advice and minimizes what the patient is experiencing; “The problem is probably stress” labels the issue and makes assumptions, which can shut down conversation; “Let’s fix this now” shifts quickly to solving the problem without exploring the patient’s perspective or feelings.