Communication in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)

Active Listening

Active listening is exceptionally important between TCM practitioners and clients, as it is the foundation of a therapeutic relationship, promoting client-centered goals and practice (O’Toole, 2016).

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Traditionally, TCM practitioners are not able to access high-tech biomedical assessment tools, and uses only four diagnostic tools: Inspection, Listening/Olfaction, Inquiry and Palpation (Maciocia, 2015). Inquiry, or TCM medical interview, is an exceptionally powerful, versatile and sensitive instrument to access and gain in-depth understanding of the client’s life, and could provide a platform for the establishment of a therapeutic relationship (Dean, Zaslawski, Roche, & Adams, 2016).

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TCM practitioners who employ active listening during Inquiry may be more effective in obtaining the sufficient and suitable information to make a more accurate diagnosis (Dean et al., 2016). For example, after a client has provided their response, I would repeat their response in my own words to clarify with the client if I understood what they meant, so as to reduce misunderstanding (Barker, 2016). I would also try to listen with my “whole self”, utilising observational and emotional skills (DeVito, 2016). This is because, in TCM, being able to gain insights to what emotions the clients tend to feel could give hints to understanding their underlying Yin-Yang imbalance (Maciocia, 2015).

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