1. Core Principles & Message Congruency

• Content vs. Process: Communication involves verbal content and nonverbal process (body language, tone). When messages are incongruent, the nonverbal behavior is always the more accurate reflection of the client's true feelings.
• Concrete vs. Abstract: Always use explicit, concrete language. High anxiety and cognitive impairment reduce processing ability, making abstract figures of speech and metaphors confusing or dangerous.
• Active Listening: This requires refraining from planning your next question. The nurse should build follow-up questions directly from the client's overt or covert cues.

2. High-Risk Safety & Boundaries

• Proxemics: The ideal therape ...