Communication for Health Professionals: Nicos' Case Study and Analysis

This essay analyzes communication for health professionals, focusing on a case study involving a patient named Nicos who is experiencing symptoms of depression. The essay explores various communication models, with the transactional model being identified as the most effective for this situation due to its ability to facilitate real-time feedback and non-verbal cues. It outlines strategies for building rapport, such as warm greetings, attentive listening, and maintaining professionalism. The essay also discusses communication strategies, including acknowledging the client's pain, remaining neutral, and employing silence. Furthermore, it covers ethical considerations, such as maintaining professionalism, respecting client views, and ensuring confidentiality. The importance of interprofessional communication is highlighted, emphasizing the need for collaboration with other healthcare professionals, like dietitians and general practitioners, to provide comprehensive care. Overall, the essay emphasizes the crucial role of effective communication in helping Nicos overcome his challenges and improve his well-being.

Running head: COMMUNICATION FOR HEALTH PROFESSIONALS
Communication for Health Professionals
Student’s Name
Institutional Affiliation

COMMUNICATION FOR HEALTH PROFESSIONALS 2
Communication for Health Professionals
Introduction
Communication can be defined simply as exchange of information. According to
Larsen, Buss, Wismeijer, Song, and Berg (2017), human beings are emotional by nature.
Despite being endowed with the ability to reason and make logical decisions, emotions
inevitably affect cognitive function (Varcarolis, 2016). Traditionally, psychologists have
treated the two (emotions and cognition) as two different entities. Modern psychology
appreciates that the two are inextricable (Khan, Raymond, Alday and Forbes, 2017). The
process of communication is also likely to influence the emotions of individuals. For
instance, if a person may receive a message about loss of a loved one, there is a high
likelihood of being sad. The state of sadness can then significantly affect reasoning. The same
process would likely happen to a person who receives some information that makes them
angry. Anger will affect rational decision making. Apart from affecting reasoning, emotions
also significantly influence physical and mental wellbeing (Karp, 2016). In life, human
beings interact. In so doing, they communicate. As seen constant exposure to certain kind of
emotions will affect health. For instance, someone who is chronically sad is likely to develop
depression. In the case study an event in life is about to push Nicos to depression. Since
communication can shape emotions, it can be used to reverse psychological illnesses such as
depression. For it to do so, it should be used effectively. This essay is going to analyse Nicos’
situation. Specifically, the following will be covered: the most effective model of
communication for the case, strategies to build rapport, communication strategies and
barriers, ethical considerations and interprofessional practice.

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Model of Communication
There exist several communication models. As a counsellor, it is very wise to choose
which model of communication to use for various clients. The symptoms exhibited by Nicos
indicate that he is at the verge of depression. Depression could greatly affect rational thinking
and may have debilitating consequences such as suicides (Shirazi, 2015). As indicated earlier,
effective communication would greatly reverse the situation and achievement of normalcy.
The model of communication that seems to best fit this case is the transactional. This model
is where message can be sent to the receiver decoded and feedback received in real time.
There is a constant change of roles (sender/receiver) and it is possible to read the non-verbal
cues such as facial expressions. This model would allow a one on one interaction with the
client and is likely to lead to accelerated recovery process. Since Nicos’ case is not yet
advanced depression, chances are higher that significant rational thinking can occur. With
this communication, it will be an easy task to build a helping relationship that would soon
lead to recovery. Some other advantage of this model of communication is that it allows
immediate feedback. It follows that any concerns will be addressed adequately and to the
satisfaction of both the client and the counsellor. Another advantage is that it will be possible
to read nonverbal communication which would otherwise be absent in other models of
communication.
Strategies to Build Rapport
To earn the trust of the client (Nicos in this case), it would be very essential to build a
rapport with him. Earning trust key in the helping relationships as it leads to sharing of more
pertinent information. The more the information that is availed, the better it is to plan for
intervention strategies. The result is accelerated process of recovery which is the main goal of
the counselling process. I would employ some techniques to build rapport with Nicos. I am

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going to outline these next. First, I would ensure that I greet him warmly and with a firm
handshake. This would be the first thing to do upon his arrival for the counselling session.
The move would be intended to create an environment of ease. A warm greeting makes
clients more comfortable with their environment (Cuijpers, Karyotaki, Park and Reynolds,
2014). Secondly, I would listen attentively to him when he speaks. To show him that I am
listening, I would maintain eye contact and other non-verbal cues such as occasional nodding.
Appreciating what a client is saying is a great way of making them feel valued and raising
their self-esteem (Certo, 2018). A rise in self esteem is a great contributor recovery from
depression. With time, the results could be phenomenal. The other technique I would do is to
maintain professionalism. While this sounds obvious, it is necessary to know where exactly
to draw the lines, that is, being not so formal but maintaining professionalism. Research has
demonstrated that clients of depression have improved chances of recovery when the
counsellor maintains professionalism (Hall, Orentlicher, Bobinski, Bagley and Cohen, 2018).
Another technique would be referring the client by his name. Clients feel more valued when
referred by their names and this leads to higher self-esteem.
Communication Strategies and Barriers
One of the strategies would be listening to Nicos’ worries and attempting to offer
some solutions on the same. When doing this, I would avoid assuring him how easy it is to
deal with his worries as it would likely make him feel inadequate. Instead I would
concentrate on offering him with some techniques on how to overcome his worries and the
importance of that to his health and quality of life. I would also be sure to acknowledge their
pain. When a client is expressing their anger, resentment or other emotions the best thing is to
empathize with them as it improves chances of recovery. I would avoid blaming them for

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something they did as this is likely to hinder progress in recovery. I would also be sure to
remain neutral and appreciate whatever feedback I receive from the client whether it
contradicts my personal values or not. In case there are negative behaviours, I would centre
on helping him do away with them. Studies in psychology has shown that any behaviour can
potentially be unlearned and be replaced with a new one. Sometimes, I would employ silence
to allow the client to express himself more. This would be a very calculated move. A possible
barrier would be significantly deteriorated rational thinking of the client. To overcome this, I
would be client with the client as he is likely to improve in future sessions.
Ethical Considerations
It is important to consider ethical principles while counselling Nicos. Not only does
this improve the quality of care but amounts to abiding by the professional code of conduct
and legislative requirements. I would ensure that I maintain professionalism. I would also
ensure that I respect the views and opinions of the client whether they contradict mine or not.
I would also ensure that as far as it depends on me, I provide the highest quality of care. I
would also maintain confidentiality. In case, it is necessary to share some information with
any other person/entity I would be sure to receive client’s consent.
Interprofessional Communication
Health pertains not only to the mental wellbeing but to physical wellbeing as well.
Nicos’ condition has significantly affected his physical health (Arnold and Boggs, 2015). For
this reason, it would be necessary to communicate with other health professionals to ensure
comprehensive care. The client’s activity levels have decreased greatly. He no longer finds
something to keep him active and entertained. The level of inactivity is likely to increase

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since he spends most of his time watching the TV. Increased inactivity levels have been
implicated in development some diseases and conditions such as obesity and cancer (Bor and
Watts, 2016). It would be important that Nicos be referred to a dietitian so that he is educated
on the importance of physical fitness and a healthy lifestyle. Physical fitness has been shown
to improve recovery from depression (Cooney, Dwan and Mead, 2014). In addition, the
dietitian will suggest some techniques that he can employ to ensure physical fitness now that
he is no longer farming. It would also be necessary that he visit a general practitioner. The
practitioner would look at the physiological changes that have occurred and prescribe
appropriate drugs. The main ethical consideration to consider when doing this is
confidentiality. Breaching confidentiality amounts to unethical practice (Faden, Beauchamp
and Kass, 2014). It is important that Nicos understand the importance of the move and give
his consent.
Conclusion
Communication refers to exchange of information. It has the potential of shaping
emotions either positively or negatively. Emotions inevitably affects cognition and health.
For instance, chronic sadness may lead to depression. When used effectively, communication
has the potential of improving a wide range of psychological illnesses. Therefore, effective
communication is one of the strategies to help Nicos recover. The best communication model
would be transactional since it allows instant feedback and an opportunity to read nonverbal
language such as facial expressions. Some strategies to build rapport would be a warm
welcoming greeting, listening attentively and appreciating what he says. Some
communication strategies would be respecting the client’s opinions, appreciating their pain,
and giving him an opportunity to adequately express himself. Ethical considerations would
include professionalism, respect and confidentiality. It would be necessary to work with other

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health professionals to increase quality of care. communication with other professional would
only be made with the consent of the client.

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