Are you listening to your patient or client?
Are you listening to your patient or client? Professional continuing education for health care professionals.
By Dr Maharaja SivaSubramanian N
As a Doctor, Hypnotherapist, Counsellor, and/or any other health care professional, you will come across patients or clients. And one important skill to be developed by you is to listen to your patient or client.
When a patient comes to you, they are there to get relieved from their problems. Very few patients come to update you that they are healthy and happy, even though it is not a rarity if you have a good relationship with your patient.
When they come, they speak a lot about their complaint for which they have come. Sometimes, what they say may be accurate, and many a times more probing needs to be done. This is especially true if you are a Homoeopath, Counsellor or Hypnotherapist. And as such, the case taking is very essential. There may be a complaint which the patient may feel not so important, however as a therapist, that sign or symptom may be the most important part of the case.
Like for example, for a Homeopath, the modalities and concomitants are very important. For a Hypnotherapist, the internal resistance of the client is very important to be overcome. For a Counsellor, ‘the why’ is the most important information to be obtained from the client.
So, to be an effective professional, when the patient or client come to you, you need to listen to them.
What is it that you have to listen to? How you have to listen? What you need to do for it?
– Listen to what they say. One moment of lack of concentration may result in not listening or improper listening to the patient or client. It will have its impact on the complete treatment procedure.
– Listen to the body language of the patient or client by observation. Sometimes, the client may not say something to you, however, there body language may help you to know it. For example, if the client displays a body language of discomfort when saying about their symptom, it may be something sensitive, which requires to be dealt with care and empathy. So, the body language of the patient or the client tells how they feel when they are in a consultation and by making them feel secure, you can get the case history and progress with the treatment with better comfort.
– Listen with an appropriate posture. When you are listening to your patient or client, you also need to have a proper posture and body language. Sit facing the patient, look at them and maintain eye contact, have a pleasant smile, be relaxed in your posture. These will help in developing good rapport with your clients/patients and will have better impact with on the overall treatment outcome.
– Learn to listen. I am sure you have understood the importance of listening from the above points. Since, listening has such importance, I always teach basics of listening and body language techniques for other health care professionals who work with me for there professional growth as my clients in developing their practice. And even from my own practice, it has repeatedly been proven, when you listen, you make for a major part of the treatment. Work with a coach on improving your listening and body language skills. Get trained. I have shared few important tips above for your use. Apply them in your practice and notice the positive difference it brings to you and your patients/clients.
So, are you clear with;
What is it that you have to listen? Listen to what they say.
How you have to listen? Listen to the body language of the patient or client by observation.
And, what you need to do for it? Listen with an appropriate posture. Learn to listen.
Be Healthier and Happier. Become Empowered and Enriched.
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Dr Maharaja SivaSubramanian N is India’s 1st Holistic Concierge Medicine Doctor specializing in Homoeopathy, Counselling, Hypnotherapy, Nutrition, Exercise Therapy. Contact Dr Maharaja N for your treatment needs.
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