Core Components Establishing therapeutic relationships is the crucial underpinning for psychiatric nursing interventions.

• Trust & Congruence: Trust builds when a nurse’s words and actions match, which is known as congruence.
• Empathy vs. Sympathy: Empathy is accurately perceiving the client's feelings, whereas sympathy involves projecting personal concerns or pity, which shifts the focus to the nurse and encourages client dependency.
• Acceptance & Positive Regard: Nurses must avoid judgments, set firm boundaries without anger, and show unconditional respect.

Self-Awareness Nurses must first understand their own values and biases to develop a therapeutic use of self.

• Johari Window: This tool  ...