I’m sure you would be familiar with this scenario. A 52-year-old with knee osteoarthritis nods along as you explain their exercise programme. They seem engaged, ask good questions, and leave with what appears to be a solid understanding of...
Picture this: You’re explaining home exercises to a patient for the third time, and they nod along with that familiar glazed expression. Or perhaps you’re discussing performance expectations with a staff member who’s becoming increasingly defensive with each question...
It’s Tuesday afternoon, and you’ve just finished a consultation that left you mentally drained. Your patient nodded through everything you said, agreed to the exercise programme, and even seemed engaged when you explained the importance of consistency. But something...
Your patient just lied to you. Not intentionally—they genuinely believe what they’re telling you is true. But their body language, tone, and energy are telling a completely different story. The question is: are you equipped to hear it? As...
Sarah walks into your clinic with chronic lower back pain. Forty minutes later, she leaves with a clear understanding of her condition, a personalised exercise plan, and what seems like genuine enthusiasm for getting better. You feel good about...
“You will come across obstacles in life—fair and unfair. And you will discover, time and time again, that what matters most is not what these obstacles are but how we see them, how we react to them, and whether...
You know the feeling. Another patient cancellation. Another “I forgot to do my exercises” conversation. Another moment where you bite your tongue instead of saying what you’re really thinking. Here you are, expert in your field, armed with evidence-based...
Here’s what decades of psychological research tells us about human behaviour: the moment someone feels their autonomy is threatened, their brain activates the same neural pathways associated with physical pain. It’s called psychological reactance, and it explains why that...
After 30 years in physiotherapy, I have a confession: I was trained to be a problem-solver, but chronic conditions taught me I was often the problem. Here’s what the research won’t tell you in your continuing education courses: healthcare...
Picture this: A newly graduated physiotherapist faces their third patient of the day—a 45-year-old tradesman with shoulder pain. Armed with fresh anatomical knowledge and a burning desire to prove their expertise, they launch into a detailed explanation of subacromial...
She was slumped in the waiting room chair, arms crossed, staring at the floor. A WorkCover patient who clearly didn’t want to be there. I’d seen this posture a thousand times before. The resigned shoulders. The defensive body language....
“Place the seven questions from The Coaching Habit near your keyboard. Set yourself the goal of asking at least one of them before you fire off advice, opinions, and suggestions. Maybe even ask two.” – Michael Bungay Stanier, The...
Picture this: You’re about to sit down with a patient who hasn’t done their exercises in three weeks. Your frustration is building before you even start talking. You know this conversation could go sideways fast—they’ll get defensive, you’ll get...
Picture this: Sarah, a 52-year-old office manager with osteoarthritis, sits across from you nodding enthusiastically. You’ve just set the perfect SMART goal together—walk 30 minutes daily for 8 weeks to improve joint mobility. It’s Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and...
Here’s a revelation that might change how you approach your next consultation: what your patients believe about their pain matters as much as what they feel. In fact, according to groundbreaking research by J.P. Caneiro, Samantha Bunzli, and Peter...
Picture this: You’ve just finished explaining a perfectly sound treatment plan. Your client nods politely, thanks you, and leaves. Two weeks later, they return having done nothing. Sound familiar? Or perhaps you’ve faced the client who outright challenges your...
In my previous piece on patient adherence, we explored Michael Pantalon’s six-question framework for helping patients persuade themselves to change. Today, I want to dive deeper into four specific questions from William Miller and Stephen Rollnick’s motivational interviewing work...
Picture this: Sarah, a 28-year-old with cystic fibrosis, sits across from you looking frustrated. Despite your detailed explanations about the importance of her airway clearance routine, she’s been skipping sessions. Again. Or consider David, recovering from knee surgery, who...
In his influential book, “Difficult Conversations“, Douglas Stone brings to light a powerful insight: “When we think others have bad intentions toward us, it affects our behaviour. And, in turn, how we behave affects how they treat us. Before...
Imagine this scenario: Sarah, a 45-year-old patient, walks into your physiotherapy clinic with a determined look. “I need ultrasound therapy for my shoulder pain. My neighbour had it, and it worked wonders for her.” As a physiotherapist, you know...
Imagine this scenario: A patient walks into your clinic, hesitant and uncertain. They’ve been referred to you after trying several treatments that didn’t work, and their body language screams, “I’m not sure this will help either.” In moments like...
For clinicians, effective communication can make or break treatment success. In many of my workshops I introduce the concept of ‘presuppositions’ in healthcare communication. Understanding and applying the 10 presuppositions of communication can significantly enhance patient interactions, leading to...
Introduction The tone of communication holds a paramount importance. The initial interaction between a clinician and a client can significantly influence the therapeutic relationship. The tone of voice, often a subtle yet potent tool, can lay the groundwork for...
The renowned authors of “Difficult Conversations” hit the nail on the head when they wrote: “The point is difficult conversations are almost never about getting the facts right. They are about conflicting perceptions, interpretations, and values.” This profound insight...
“Focus on the real problem, not the first problem.” – Michael Bungay Stanier, ‘The Coaching Habit’ This interesting statement from Stanier’s work encapsulates a crucial concept for clinicians in their daily practice. It challenges you to look beyond surface-level...
This insightful quote from William Miller highlights a crucial aspect of effective communication and problem-solving in healthcare settings, particularly when dealing with patients who struggle with adherence. It emphasises the importance of understanding and validating the patient’s perspective, even...
It’s common in healthcare to find yourself grappling with the challenge of client non-adherence. Chris Voss’s insight offers us a fresh perspective: “The goal is to identify what your counterpart actually needs (monetarily, emotionally, or otherwise) and get them...
This is the final article in a series of three based on communication models. In an era where patient-centred care is paramount, the S.A.I.D model offers a structured approach to improving communication with clients. By mastering these four strategies,...
Why Healthcare Clinicians Should Care About Conversation Types You ability to communicate effectively can significantly impact client outcomes. Charles Duhigg’s model of three conversation types provides a framework for understanding and improving your interactions with clients, leading to better...
Your ability to communicate effectively with clients is paramount to providing quality care. Two models that offer valuable insights into improving your communication skills are Charles Duhigg’s three types of conversations and Lowenbraun & Stephens’ S.A.I.D model. Let’s explore...
Unveiling the Hidden: Beyond Patient Objections In my previous discussion, I explored how objections are often requests for more information rather than outright rejections. Now, let’s delve deeper into why healthcare professionals might misinterpret these objections and how you...
“An objection is not a rejection, it is simply a request for more information.” – Bo Bennet This insightful quote from Bo Bennet offers a valuable perspective for healthcare professionals when dealing with objections. It encourages us to reframe...
Incorporating effective communication techniques can significantly enhance the impact that health care clinicians have on their clients. One such technique, suggested by Phil M Jones in his book “Exactly What to Say,” involves the power of framing a conversation...
In the realm of healthcare, effective communication is not solely about the exchange of information; it is about understanding the profound impact of non-verbal cues, such as silence. Oscar Trimboli, in his work “Deep Listening,” eloquently highlights the transformative...
In the words of Charles Duhigg, author of “The Power of Habit,” willpower operates much like a muscle: it can be fortified through practice yet is susceptible to fatigue. This dual nature of willpower—being both a learnable skill and...
“Our values influence our motivation. If we don’t have strongly held values, we’ll have little motivation. If our values are strong, our motivation will be equally strong.” – Steve Andreas, NLP Comprehensive In the realm of healthcare, clinicians are...
When it comes to rehabilitation and treatment, clinicians often focus on the technical aspects of exercise prescription. However, the success of any intervention lies not just in the what, but also in the how and the when. BJ Fogg,...
Complex reflections are a crucial component of Motivational Interviewing (MI), a counselling approach developed by William R. Miller and Stephen Rollnick. This technique is designed to support and strengthen a person’s own motivation and commitment to change. A complex...
In the realm of healthcare, the success of treatment often hinges not only on the clinical skills of healthcare professionals but also on the willingness and ability of patients to adhere to prescribed interventions. “Nudge,” a groundbreaking book by...
Embracing Self-Persuasion in Patient Care The quote by Miller and Rollnick from their book “Motivational Interviewing” highlights a pivotal concept in patient care and behavioural change. The central idea is that individuals are more receptive to change and persuasion...
