IPC AND COMMUNICATION SKILLS

ROLE/IMPORTANCE OF COMMUNICATION To asses a client’s problem To explore client’s thoughts, emotions and defences regarding drug use To help client get a perspective about his drug use and its consequences in a protected environment

COMMUNICATION SKILLS REQUIRED How to start a dialogue with the client? What needs to be said to the client and how? What type of questions to ask – open ended vs close ended? Role of non verbal communication Role of listening skills

OPENING THE DIALOGUE WITH THE CLIENT Ensure client is comfortable Address client by name Be aware of your own body language – don’t be impatient or rush the client Let the client talk Be sensitive to what the client says

CONTENT OF THE DIALOGUE Allow the client to set the pace of the dialogue Assess if client wants to confide/seeks information If client wants to confide – then listen carefully If client seeks information – then listen carefully and then provide appropriate information as required

OPEN ENDED VS CLOSE ENDED Open ended Use open ended questions where client needs encouragement to talk Open ended questions allow people to expand the dialogue Close ended Use close ended questions to bring a client who is rambling back to the discussion Close ended questions should be used to elicit specific information

UNDERSTANDING ROLE OF NON-VERBAL COMMUNICATION Helps to assess the state of the clients mind Helps to understand if client is comfortable sharing information or not

IMPORTANT NON-VERBAL CUES TO LOOK OUT FOR Physical gestures Facial expression Tone of voice/pitch/ volume Eye to eye contact

IMPORTANCE OF LISTENING Listen for what client is saying as well as ‘not saying’ Important to listen for ‘pauses’, for ‘drop in voice pitch or volume’ Important to follow the words as well the nuances/gaps between words Tone/pitch/volume important to understand

EMPATHY VS SYMPATHY EmpathySympathy Listen to and understand client’s experience from his perspective Always side with the client May not always be in agreement with client Become emotionally involved Help client find his own solutionsSharing the burden with the client Not making client’s suffering your burden Reactions of ORW may become similar to other family members

CHARACTERISTICS OF AN EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATOR Non-judgementalObjectiveCalm/SupportiveGenuine Self-awareRespectfulPatient

CONCLUSION An effective communicator can support his/her client in getting the right perspective to his problem and can support them in not just dealing with their drug problem but in building healthy relationships as well