Mental Health Previous Chpt Review

Covering up a real or perceived weakness by emphasizing a trait one considers more desirable

An attempt to avoid expressing actual emotions associated with a stressful situation by using the intellectual processes of logic, reasoning, and analysis

Refusing to acknowledge the existence of a real situation or the feelings associated with it

Integrating the beliefs and values of another individual into one’s own ego structure

The transfer of feelings from one target to another that is considered less threatening or that is neutral

Separating a thought or memory from the feeling, tone, or emotion associated with it

An attempt to increase self-worth by acquiring certain attributes and characteristics of an individual one admires

Attributing feelings or impulses unacceptable to one’s self to another person

Attempting to make excuses or formulate logical reasons to justify unacceptable feelings or behaviors

Rechanneling of drives or impulses that are personally or socially unacceptable into activities that are constructive

Preventing unacceptable or undesirable thoughts or behaviors from being expressed by exaggerating opposite thoughts or types of behaviors

The voluntary blocking of unpleasant feelings and experiences from one’s awareness

Responding to stress by retreating to an earlier level of development and the comfort measures associated with that level of functioning

Symbolically negating or canceling out an experience that one finds intolerable

Involuntarily blocking unpleasant feelings and experiences from one’s awareness

silence encourages patient to organize thoughts and put them into words and allows the patient time to think about the significance of events, thoughts, and feelings

accepting conveys an attitude of understanding and willingness to interact

Acknowledging and indication awareness is better than complimenting, which reflects the nurse's judgment

Willingness to spend time with the patient and show interest on an unconditional basis helps to increase the patients feelings of self-worth

broad opening allow the patient to direct the focus of the interaction and emphasize the importance of the patient's role in the communication process

general leads offer the patient encouragement to continue with minimal input from the nurse

encouraging the patient to identify the sequence of events and when they occurred in time facilitates organizing one's thoughts about their experiences

Verbalizing observing about a patient's behavior or appearance encourages the patient to develop awareness of how they are perceived by other and promotes exploration of issues that may be problematic

asking the patient to verbalize his or her perceptions facilitates the patient's ability to develop awareness and understanding

asking the patient to compare similarities and differences, in ideas, experiences, or interpersonal relationships helps the patient recognize life experiences that tend to recur and those aspects of life that are changeable

repeating the main idea of what the patient has said lets the patient know whether an expressed statement has been understood and gives him or her the chance to continue, or to clarify if necessary

questions and feeling are referred back to the patient so that the patient is empowered to actively engage in problem-solving rather than simply asking the nursed for advise

• taking notice of a single idea or even a single word encourages specific discussion about a relevant issue and is especially helpful with patients who are moving rapidly from one thought to another.
• Focusing is very difficult in a patient with severe anxiety so in this case the nurse should not pursue this until it lessens

when the nurse hears the patient mention an issue or theme that seems relevant the nurse asks the patient to explore this further this facilitates development of awareness and understanding about events, thoughts, and feelings

striving to explain that which is vague or incomprehensible and searching for mutual understanding facilitates and increases understanding for both patient and nurse

when the patient has a misperception of the environment, the nurse defines reality by expressing his or her perception of the situation without challenging the patients perceptions

expressing uncertainty about the validity of the patient's perceptions is a technique often used with patients experiencing delusional thinking

Putting into words what the patient has only implied or said indirectly is a technique that can be helpful with patients experiencing impaired verbal communication

when the patient has difficulty identifying feelings or feelings are expressed indirectly, the nurse tries to "desymbolize" what has been said and to find clues to the underlying true feelings

encouraging the patient to identify a plan for behavior change promotes developing better coping skills