This study was designed to identify the characteristics and properties about therapeutic communication. The subjects of this study were 20 nurses working in psychiatric ward. The data were gathered through interview from March 2nd, to May 30th in 1996. The data were subject`s descriptions about therapeutic communication and analysed by content analysis. The result wee as follows : 1. The characteristics of therapeutic communication are identified as formal relation, patient`s problem centered communication, professional area, active attitude in mutual relation, encouraging patient`s expression, sufficiently allocated time, purpose to solve patient`s problem, progressive phases in relation, active and facillitative coping skill of therapist in dealing patient`s problem. 2. The description of therapeutic communication is follows : Due to analyses of data, the data were divided into six categories : motive in relation, mutual position in relation, preliquiste condition, content characteristics, the structure of mileu, result of relation. It`s motive are good intention to help patient and professionality to deal patient`s problem. In mutual relation, therapist leads communication with professional responsibility to solve patient`s problem through systematic and individualized approach. The preliquistes of therapeutic communication are patient`s capability to have mutual relation, active attitude in relation, rapport in patient-therapist relation, therapist`s professional capability in counseling. The content`s characteristics of therapeutic communication are encourage of patient`s expression, exploration of patient`s subjectivity, planned communication pursuing formation of insight and emotional ventilation in patient. The environmental mileu of therapeutic communication is professional and formal authority based situation in interview, is situation that therapist deal with patient`s problem with responsibility, and patient depends on therapist in solving his problem. The results of therapeutic communication are advance in therapist-patient relationship, reinforcement in emotional alliance in relation, patient`s emotional catharsis, patient`s insight and absence of patient`s problematic behaviors. 3. The barriers of therapeutic communication in nursing situation. Due to analyses of interview about nurses`s experience of therapeutic communication, nurses`s therapeutic communication in clinical setting is superficial, non-planed, non-clarified purpose in communication and it was different from perception of therapeutic communication they have. The reasons of nurses`s difficulties in appling therapeutic communication in practice were work-overloading. unwillingness, lack of knowledge and skill, lack of ability in emotional control, absence of nursing system about nurse-patient communication.