A Conceptualization of Therapeutic Communication: The WHAT Model
Keywords:
Therapeutic Communication, Counselor Education, Communication Process, Communication, Counseling, PsychotherapyAbstract
Communication forms a major component of the therapeutic process. With words serving as a primary medium, the process of communication during counseling or psychotherapy may be represented by the four-phase model presented the present study. In an effort to teach counseling technique, alleviate initial counseling session tension, as well as potentially increase counseling process efficacy and flow across theories, the WHAT Model is presented. In order to empirically test the viability of the WHAT Model in a therapeutic environment, Brief Counseling Self-Confidence Scale scores (BCSCS) were analyzed before and after presentation of the model to master's level pre-practicum students. Results of a paired samples t-test resulted in a significant difference found between groups, adding support for the model in improving scholarly productivity and counseling efficacy.
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:
- Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgement of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgement of its initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work (See The Effect of Open Access).