Helpful Phrases
Helpful Phrases* for Communicating with Patients
Establishing your willingness to listen:
• I’m listening.
• I’m here.
• Would you like to talk about that?
• Listening is what I’m here for.
• It sounds like it may be hard for you to talk about that.
• I’m here.
• Would you like to talk about that?
• Listening is what I’m here for.
• It sounds like it may be hard for you to talk about that.
Recognizing the person behind the words and acknowledging feelings:
• It sounds like you are angry about that.
• How did it feel when that happened?
• What kinds of feelings are you having right now?
• You must have felt very hurt.
• I can’t tell how you feel about that.
• Have you had those feeling at other times?
• Are you feeling a little confused by all that?
• You wish things could be different?
• You feel things are pretty hopeless right now?
• How did it feel when that happened?
• What kinds of feelings are you having right now?
• You must have felt very hurt.
• I can’t tell how you feel about that.
• Have you had those feeling at other times?
• Are you feeling a little confused by all that?
• You wish things could be different?
• You feel things are pretty hopeless right now?
Helping people consider options:
• How would you like to feel? How would you like things to be?
• What do you want to do? What do you feel you should do?
• What are you going to base your decision on?
• What are the choices, as you see them?
• How will your choices affect other you care about?
• What do you see as the next step?
• What are your plans right now?
• So you think you need to do something about that?
• What ideas have you already considered? What have you already done?
• You seem to have some ideas about what would help you.
• You’ve tried ideas that didn’t work?
• Have you talked to anyone else about this (e.g., friends, family, doctors, clergy)? What did they say?
• Do I hear you saying that… (summarize)?
• A minute ago you said (repeat). Would you explain more about that? What part of this is something that you can control?
• What do you want to do? What do you feel you should do?
• What are you going to base your decision on?
• What are the choices, as you see them?
• How will your choices affect other you care about?
• What do you see as the next step?
• What are your plans right now?
• So you think you need to do something about that?
• What ideas have you already considered? What have you already done?
• You seem to have some ideas about what would help you.
• You’ve tried ideas that didn’t work?
• Have you talked to anyone else about this (e.g., friends, family, doctors, clergy)? What did they say?
• Do I hear you saying that… (summarize)?
• A minute ago you said (repeat). Would you explain more about that? What part of this is something that you can control?
Offering insights, information, or referrals:
• Have you ever tried…?
• Have you heard about…?
• Did you know about…?
• Does it seem to you that…?
• Have you considered…?
• I wonder if…?
• How do you feel about my saying that…?
• Have you heard about…?
• Did you know about…?
• Does it seem to you that…?
• Have you considered…?
• I wonder if…?
• How do you feel about my saying that…?
Reviewing and wrapping up the conversation:
• How do you feel about that NOW?
• So you know now what you want to do?
• You sound a little stronger (less afraid, less confused) about that now.
• You see the situation differently now.
• What are you plans now, what you are going to do next?
• Would you like to talk again after you (think about a concern some more, take an action)?
• I Hope things will be better for you soon.
• I wish you luck with (plans).
• I’m glad you decided to talk about this.
*Adapted from: Helpful Phrases, Lower Cape Fear Hospice, Inc., Wilmington, North Carolina.
• So you know now what you want to do?
• You sound a little stronger (less afraid, less confused) about that now.
• You see the situation differently now.
• What are you plans now, what you are going to do next?
• Would you like to talk again after you (think about a concern some more, take an action)?
• I Hope things will be better for you soon.
• I wish you luck with (plans).
• I’m glad you decided to talk about this.
*Adapted from: Helpful Phrases, Lower Cape Fear Hospice, Inc., Wilmington, North Carolina.
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