A Clinician's Superpowers - #1: The Power of Acknowledgment

The power of acknowledgment is a key concept in effective communication, and it is particularly important for a clinician to have as a superpower. Acknowledging a patient's emotions, concerns, and needs will create a similar reality between clinician and patient and thus, will help build strong trust and rapport, and it also facilitates better collaboration and decision-making.?

For example, if a patient is feeling anxious or overwhelmed about their condition, acknowledging their feelings and providing support and guidance will help reduce their stress and make them feel more comfortable and engaged in their care.?

Acknowledgment will also validate a patient's experiences and perspectives, which can be especially important for individuals who may feel marginalized or misunderstood.?

Some examples of words of acknowledgement are:

1. "I definitely understand how going to get your hair done is important for you!"
2. "I can understand how you might be feeling upset right now."
3. "I can tell the fact that it is raining out is stressing you out and it will be tough to make it to therapy"
4. "I hear that you're feeling really frustrated and I want you to know that I'm here to support you."
5. "I'm sorry you had a bad experience and understand your reservations"
6. "I see that you're feeling overwhelmed and I want to help in any way that I can."
7. "I can tell that you're feeling really sad and I want you to know that I care about you and I'm here for you."
8. "I understand that you're feeling angry and I want to acknowledge that and help find a solution."
9. "I'm sorry that you're feeling hurt and I want you to know that I support you."
10. "I can imagine that you're feeling stressed and I want to offer my help in any way that I can."
11. "It sounds like you're feeling really upset and I want to let you know that I am here for you."
12. "I can sense that you're feeling anxious and I want to acknowledge that and help you to find some calm."

In short, the power of acknowledgment is a valuable superpower that clinicians need to harness. It will help improve the overall patient experience, enhance the overall effectiveness of care and strengthen the trust a patient has with their clinician.

Wanna work on your Power of Acknowledgment? Join my 14 day Patient Communication Challenge!