Four communication skills from psychiatry useful in palliative care and how to teach them

Abstract

Palliative care and psychiatry share a number of the same priorities, including careful attention to communication skill development. In this article, we identify 4 communication skills helpful in both fields: (1) attending to countertransference, (2) practicing active listening and active reflection, (3) remaining silent and neutral, and (4) naming the emotion. We then describe strategies for teaching these skills.