Therapeutic Communication

If you’ve ever heard Led Zeppelin’s 1969 classic “Communication Breakdown,” you know how quickly things can go sideways when people aren’t on the same page. 

In this case, the second greatest rock ’n’ roll band of all time (yeah, I said it and we can discuss that issue later) was singing about communication in a romantic relationship. In wilderness medicine, the stakes are a bit higher than a broken heart, meaning you could be talking about a full-on cardiac arrest!

Out in the backcountry, whether you’re dealing with a twisted ankle or a full-blown medical emergency, clear, calm communication can make the difference between an effective treatment/evacuation and a chaotic situation that spirals out of control.

This post presents guidance on how to communicate with sick or injured parties in emergency settings and keeping patients and their loved ones informed and reassured, so you can get on with the business of providing effective medical treatment.

Getting Up to Speed on Therapeutic Communication Fundamentals

Therapeutic communication is simply a set of best practices for helping patients feel heard, understood, and a little less freaked out when they’re sick, injured, exhausted, and at wit’s end. And in the backcountry, that matters — a lot.

It starts before you even say a word. Nonverbal cues are the equivalent of making a good first impression. These can be broken down into three categories: (more…)