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# Communication Skills ## Empathic Responding Many of the messages patients send to you involve the way they feel about their illnesses or life situations. If you are able to communicate back to a patient that you understand these feelings, then a caring, trusting relationship can be established....

# Communication Skills ## Empathic Responding Many of the messages patients send to you involve the way they feel about their illnesses or life situations. If you are able to communicate back to a patient that you understand these feelings, then a caring, trusting relationship can be established. Communicating that you understand another person's feelings is a powerful way of establishing rapport and is a necessary ingredient in any helping relationship. Empathy has many positive effects. It helps patients come to trust you as someone who cares about their welfare. It helps patients understand their own feelings more clearly. Often their concerns are only vaguely perceived until they begin to talk with someone. ## Nonverbal Attending In conveying your willingness to listen, your nonverbal behavior is at least as important as what you say. As discussed earlier, you can do a number of things nonverbally to convey your interest and concern. Establishing eye contact while talking to patients, leaning toward them with no physical barriers between you, and having a relaxed posture all help to put the patient at ease and show your concern. In engaged listening, both parties are given the opportunity to fully express their views, feelings, and ideas. ## Nonverbal Communication Nonverbal communications are unique for three reasons: 1. They mirror innermost thoughts and feelings. This mirror effect is constantly at work, whether or not you are conscious of it. 2. Nonverbal communication is difficult to "fake" during an interpersonal interaction. 3. If nonverbal communication is not consistent with the verbal communication, then it becomes suspicious of the intended meaning of message. ### Elements of Nonverbal Communication Important nonverbal elements discussed here include kinesics (body movement), proxemics (distance between persons trying to communicate), the physical environment, and potential distracting elements of nonverbal communication. 1. **Kinesics (Body Movement)** The manner in which you use your arms, legs, hands, head, face, and torso may have a dramatic impact on the messages that you send. As a health care professional, you need to