Effective Communication Essay: Case Analysis Of Benjamin

Question

Task: In your essay, you will assume the role of a counsellor who has received a client referral. Referrals can be accessed on Moodle. You have not yet met this client. Your essay should critically reflect on how communication with the client will take place.
Your essay should address the following:
• How would you develop rapport with the client?
• What communication strategies would you employ to facilitate effective communication, and how would you implement these strategies?
• What do you believe to be some barriers, such as socio-cultural factors, to effective communication with this client? How will you overcome these barriers?
• What ethical considerations are present in this case?
• Consider at least 3 other health professionals you may communicate with regarding your client’s healthcare? What ethical considerations are present when communicating with other health professionals? What are some challenges that could arise from this interprofessional communication?
• Research: Essays are expected to be evidence based – claims and ideas should be supported by research. Students are expected to include a minimum of 5 references. References included in the oral presentation and annotated bibliography can be used in the essay.

Answer

Effective communication
In the present effective communication essay, the concept of effective communication is described as the process of sharing ideas, views, information, and essential knowledge such that the aim or objective is achieved in the finest probable way. In other words it is the presentation of the opinions from the side of the sender in such a manner best understood from the side of the receiver. Effective communication is a key factor in achieving the health care goals already set for the patient (Gluyas, 2015). It is common for individuals to feel anxiety for their health, for different tests and treatments they will have to receive and their future. Having a healthy relationship with the patient can reduce their anxiety and develop their confidence.it has been reported that Individuals with mental health issues should be involved in a therapeutic relationship with the help of effective communication strategies (Warnecke, 2014). This particular effective communication essay will discuss the use of effective communication for the patient with a mental health issue.

Benjamin is the 19 years old male referred to his GP for mood and substance abuse problems. He was separated from his father and do not think will get support from his mother. He develops drinks alcohol to cope with his sleeping issues. He also feels loneliness and does not want to communicate with others about his mood and consumption of alcohol. In this case of effective communication essay, counsellor needs to be skilled with effective communication skills and must have enough knowledge about the characteristics of communication. There are different characteristics of effective communication such as clear message, correct message, complete message, precise message, reliability, consideration of the recipient, and sender's courtesy (Schiavo, 2013). To develop a rapport with Benjamin a counsellor must use effective communication skills. First of all they must be direct open and honest about his health status. They must ask the patient what he is feeling and about his thoughts. As the patient is facing for a long time, he might have must say. They must be attentive to his distress. As the patient does not want to discuss his mood and substance abuse issues to anyone, develop a therapeutic relationship can help the client to discuss what he is feeling (Silverman et al., 2016).

For Benjamin there are different communication strategies can be used to facilitate the effective communication and therapeutic alliance such as active listening, being empathetic, showing respect, clarity, and concision, nonverbal communication, focusing on the issue, being genuine, being flexible, and using affirmative response (Varcarolis, 2016). As the patient has been facing problems from his childhood including the separation of his parents, he developed loneliness issues and drinking habits that are affecting his mental health. Active listening will allow Benjamin to feel that he is the priority and he is being cared for. It will also help him to sense that the listener is actually interested in his problem. It has been reported herein effective communication essay that the patient with mood and substance abuse often respond well if dealt with respect and empathy. Showing empathy can help him to discuss his problem without hesitating. Using no verbal communication can also be used to facilitate effective communication. Shaking head in response to the client is one of the main non-verbal communication which allows the client to continue what he is saying. Counsellors can also use haptic or touch communication which will help Benjamin to feel familiar. The Counsellor must be knowledgeable about the different cultures and speak in a way that can be understandable to the patient. Therefore the patient should be given enough time to discuss his problem (Culley & Bond, 2011).

In the case of Benjamin considered in the effective communication essay, there are different barrier can take place such as his anxiety towards his job, and not being interested in discussing mood and substance abuse. To overcome the mood and alcohol consumption a healthy conversation will be needed but in the case of Benjamin, this can be difficult. The patient has been feeling down for the last few months which can be more troubling for his health and for effective communication as he might not respond the way he should. Another remains a barrier to effective communication can be the patient’s concern about his information. Benjamin might be apprehensive about exposing the information about his alcohol consumption and its impacts on his health as he may fear being judged. It has been reported that sometimes the staff interacts less with patients which might affect the communication process and eventually the therapeutic alliance (Mira et al, 2014). If the patient feels that the counsellor does not have the time they are rushed, distracted, or being judgemental, it is probable that he will not freely describe his problem. Another barrier in the case of Benjamin outlined in the effective communication essay can be a lack of cultural knowledge. It is possible that the healthcare professional does not have enough knowledge about the aboriginal culture which directly affects the effective communication between both. To overcome these barriers as stated above within this effective communication essay, counsellors must include the patient in the decision-making process, dealt with empathy and respect (Schwappach et al., 2012). He must be ensured that his information is safe and it will not be revealed without his permission. The counsellor with enough knowledge of aboriginal culture will be assigned for Benjamin. 

There are different ethical considerate are present in the case of Benjamin explored in the effective communication essay. As Benjamin’s mother belongs to the aboriginal community, thus he has all the rights of an aboriginal person. The Aboriginal patient often asks to carry their spiritual things with them in the hospital. They should be allowed with the permission of higher authority or doctor (Durey & Thompson, 2012). According to the guidelines of the department of health Australia, the aboriginal patients must be involved in the decision making process about their treatment process. Based on personal autonomy, the aboriginal patient can make the decision themselves. The healthcare professional like counsellor must consider cultural safe practices while providing their services. Aboriginal culture is different in its oral, listening, or talking communication practices. Their communication can be complex for a non-aboriginal person as it covers in the narrative and broad events. This situation mentioned in the effective communication essay can be unsympathetic to such types of forms of communication and unlikely to endorse effective communication. Therefore the aboriginal healthcare worker should be assigned for an aboriginal patient (Laverty et al., 2017). The ethical consideration is that the counsellor should not assume anything about the health of the patient and must clear with them before assuming. The patient information should be kept confidential and safe. A health care professional must understand that a culturally suitable and safe environment is essential for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander individuals to address mental health issues and to deliver the best services by providing such type of environment. Last but not the least, informed consent should be received from the client (Nasir et al., 2018).

There three different healthcare professionals who can be involved to address Benjamin's: psychiatrist, physician, and social worker. A psychiatrist will help in finding the best medication available for his mood. A physician can be a great influence on getting Benjamin to accept the treatment. A social worker can deal with the ethical issues and help the client to find different services being provided by government organizations freely for aboriginal and for people with mental health issues. The counsellor must also recognize ethical considerations while communicating with other health care professionals (Bettinardi-Angres et al., 2012). Inter-professional communication must adhere to beneficence principles, non-maleficence, and respect for individual autonomy. Another main ethical issue mentioned in the effective communication essay that may arise is related to patient information, which must be shared with other professionals. Thus a consent should be taken from the health care professionals (Gordon et al., 2015). There are different challenges that can be raised while communicating with them such as lack of cultural understanding among other professionals, lack of knowledge about the patient's condition. Most of the healthcare professionals want to work in their familiarised settings with the known peer. Therefore lack of interest may arise while communicating (Foronda et al., 2016).

In concluding the overall discussion done within this effective communication essay, effective communication is a key part of the treatment process for patients with mood and substance abuse issues. Benjamin is the young person referred by his GP for mood and substance abuse. To develop a rapport with him a therapeutic relationship will be developed with him. He will be dealt with empathy respect in order to allow him to feel empowered and familiar. Some of the effective communications strategies can be used such as active listening, non-verbal communication, being open and honest, concentrating on the problem, and being genuine and assuring the safety of patient's information. Some of the barriers mentioned herein effective communication essay that can be raised while communicating with him are lack of cultural understanding, being rushed while talking, and the patient's concern about his information. Some of the ethical consideration must be recognized are not allowing the patient to carry spiritual things, not allowing him in decision making, and being unsympathetic. Three of the other professionals can be communicated are psychiatrists, physician, and social worker. Lack of understating about the patient situation, in-sufficient knowledge of aboriginal cultures, etc. are the challenges that may arise.

References
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Culley, S., & Bond, T. (2011). Integrative counseling skills in action. Sage.

Durey, A., & Thompson, S. C. (2012). Reducing the health disparities of Indigenous Australians: time to change focus. BMC health services research, 12(1), 151.

Foronda, C., MacWilliams, B., & McArthur, E. (2016). Interprofessional communication in healthcare: An integrative review. Nurse education in practice, 19, 36-40.

Gluyas, H. (2015). Effective communication and teamwork promotes patient safety. Nursing Standard (2014+), 29(49), 50.

Gordon, J., Deland, E., & Kelly, R. (2015). Let’s talk about improving communication in healthcare.

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Laverty, M., McDermott, D. R., & Calma, T. (2017). Embedding cultural safety in Australia’s main health care standards. The Medical Journal of Australia, effective communication essay 207(1), 15-16.

Mira, J. J., Guilabert, M., Pérez?Jover, V., & Lorenzo, S. (2014). Barriers for an effective communication around clinical decision making: an analysis of the gaps between doctors' and patients' point of view. Health Expectations, 17(6), 826-839.

Nasir, B. F., Toombs, M. R., Kondalsamy-Chennakesavan, S., Kisely, S., Gill, N. S., Black, E., & Nicholson, G. C. (2018). Common mental disorders among Indigenous people living in regional, remote and metropolitan Australia: a cross-sectional study. BMJ open, 8(6), e020196.

Schiavo, R. (2013). Health communication: From theory to practice (Vol. 217). John Wiley & Sons.

Schwappach, D. L., Massetti, C. M., & Gehring, K. (2012). Communication barriers in counselling foreign-language patients in public pharmacies: threats to patient safety?. International journal of clinical pharmacy, 34(5), 765-772.

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Warnecke, E. (2014). The art of communication. Effective communication essay Australian Family Physician, 43(3), 156.