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...
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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...
“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...
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...
Imagine you’re about to start a physiotherapy session with a patient who’s been struggling with chronic back pain. You’ve got your treatment plan ready, but something feels off. The patient’s body language seems hesitation, their eyes aren’t focused on,...
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...
