The nurse using Peplau’s theory (1952) focuses on devel-
oping the nurse–client relationship, following the four
phases of the relationship. The nurse is aware of the indi-
vidual concerns of the client and the nurse, and emphasis is
placed on interpersonal phenomena such as language,
earning and development of interpersonal and problem-
solving competencies. Within this theory, the client directs
the content by identifying issues while the nurse directs the
process by encouraging exploration of issues (Forchuk &
Brown 1989).
Peplau’s theory provides a foundation for practising
nursing as an interactional process. The theory, once put in
clinical practice, allows nurses to get in touch with their
own feelings and values. In assisting the client to problem-
solve, nurses need to be aware of the dynamics of human
nteraction in terms of the use of language and counselling
skills.