Registered Mental Health Nursing (RMN)
FACILITATING COUNSELLING SESSION
This is a psychotherapeutic process by which one person with skills and ability helps another who has problems by purposeful interaction in an accepting and understanding atmosphere. This therapy basically involves the nurse, patient and the relevant mental health team members. In counselling, one should desist from giving advice but rather guide patient to explore and decide on what is best for him/her
Purpose
- Establish a healthy relationship
- Help reduce anxiety and tension
- Encourage client to examine the available alternatives and decide on appropriate choices useful for problem solving
- Assist patient to gain insight and understanding of his/her condition
Equipment
- Serene environment
- Two comfortable chairs and a table
Procedure steps
- Advance Preparation
- Set up an appointment with the patient
- Prepare the venue for the session
- Ensure patient has taken his/her medication, meal and is well groomed
- Welcome and receive patient(s)
- Sit patient(s) in a desired pattern while observing his gestures, mannerism and posture
- Establish rapport (refer procedure) and explain the procedure to the patient(s)
- Initiate conversation with brief introduction
- Assure patient of confidentiality
- Encourage patient to express problems, fears and conflicts
- Identify patient’s thoughts and feelings as he/she expresses him/herself
- Identify with patient his/her perceived difficulties and possible contributing factors to the problem
- Speak in a calm, soft voice during discussions and avoid being judgmental
- Allow patient to come out with coping strategies
- Support patient to implement the strategies if possible
- Inform the patient that he/she will be monitored on how he/she implements the strategies as well as assessment of his/her progress
- Set date, time and venue for the next counselling session
- Summarize and close the session
- Express appreciation to patient and direct him/her to the next activity
- Document the procedure and any observation made in nurses’ notes/patient’s folder
References and further reading
Educational resource only. Follow current Nursing and Midwifery Council guidance, local institutional protocols, scope of practice, and clinical supervision.
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