Kaplan Foundation B Practice Test

Therapeutic communication relies on inviting the patient to share thoughts and concerns and showing you are truly listening. Open-ended questions let patients express themselves in detail, rather than replying with yes-or-no answers. Active listening involves giving full attention, reflecting back what the patient says, and summarizing to confirm understanding, which helps build trust and uncover important information. These elements support patient-centered care and effective information gathering. The other statements misrepresent professional communication: validating feelings is a therapeutic technique, not something that makes communication nontherapeutic; confidentiality is required with adult patients; and professional relationships with patients should be kept strictly professional to maintain appropriate boundaries.