Psychiatric Technician Practice Exam

What therapeutic communication technique is demonstrated when a psychiatric technician asks a client if a situation has happened before?

1. Reflective listening

2. Encouraging comparison

3. Restating

4. Exploring

The correct answer is: Encouraging comparison

The technique of encouraging comparison is demonstrated when a psychiatric technician asks a client if a situation has happened before. This approach prompts the client to reflect on their past experiences in relation to a current situation, allowing for deeper exploration of their feelings, behaviors, and patterns. It helps the client make connections between their past and present, which can enhance their understanding and facilitate therapeutic progress. By asking about previous experiences, the technician encourages the client to analyze similarities and differences, fostering insight into how they might handle similar situations. This technique can also empower the client by highlighting their capacity for growth and change over time, as they can articulate how they have or have not reacted differently in similar scenarios. Overall, it serves to deepen the therapeutic relationship and understanding between the technician and the client.