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,
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
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
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
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
“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
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
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
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
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
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
“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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
“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
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
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
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
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
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
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,
“An objection is not a rejection, it is simply a request for more information.” – Bo Bennet This insightful quote from Bo Bennet offers a
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 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,
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
“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
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
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
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
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
Helping clinicians manage their more challenging clients so that they can gain better treatment outcomes, increase profit margins and service a growing market.