Last Updated Mar 2011
Physical and occupational therapists have multiple opportunities to listen to emotion held within their patients’ stories. You have a rich environment laden with emotion that, if guided, can benefit your patients both physically and emotionally. Whether you are in a hospital, clinic, or rehabilitation facility, you come face to face with situations that have great potential for healing. So how do you turn the negative emotion you face daily into opportunities for learning and healing?
Patients and their families reveal so much about themselves. The thoughtful and skillful physical therapist will LISTEN for opportunities to make a difference. Sorting through the many words can be difficult, so remembering some basics will go a long way to helping them and making them feel you’ve made a difference. And what a boost for you as well!!
First, I advise to simply LISTEN. Be quiet and take it all in. Most of the time, people don’t expect you to come up with solutions to their problems. They JUST WANT TO BE HEARD, so giving them the time and space to vent is valuable. Once a person has spoken the emotion and frustration, tension is alleviated. The loss of tension will also make a difference in the physical body that you are healing at the same time.
One tool I use is to give the situation at least ONE MINUTE OF LISTENING TIME. As you listen, try to find the KEY WORD or PHRASE that you can build on.
For example, a patient might say, “I just can’t do _____ alone any more. Things happen and I can’t do all that I did before. So I’ve just decided to quit trying.”
What would you say in response to these comments? What questions would you ask?
Here are some possibilities.
SAY, “So you feel that it’s useless to try doing ______ any more?” With this question, the patient has an opportunity to confirm what was said or to change his/her thoughts to a more positive frame of mind. When emotions are high, blanket statements are often made using words like “never”, “always”, etc. You are providing an opportunity to the patient to reconsider their thinking so just stay silent and listen.
Or you might say, “What will happen if you quit trying?” Encourage the patient to consider the alternative to trying and forging ahead. This is a technique I use frequently and often with many positive results. When faced with the alternative, most people reconsider and decide to try yet again. After all, trying is what makes us human and keeps us going.
I also find that the more often caring professionals, in this case physical and occupational therapists, can assist patients in breaking down their concerns into smaller, more manageable parts, the better the outcome. So, if you were to say, “What areas of your life are still manageable for you alone?”, that question helps the person break down daily life into “can do” and “can’t do” categories. Taking the discussion a step further, ask “Which of your “can’t do’s” can be converted to “can do’s” if additional resources were provided? You are encouraging the development of possibilities for your patients. What a present you are providing when you do this!!
As a physical/occupational therapist who sees the patient frequently, you can begin to mold their thinking into more positive avenues. Never underestimate the influence you have. Always remind your patients that dealing with one issue at a time may take longer but will resolve more tension and conflict over time.
In this month of celebration and holiday spirit, you can shine the light of possibilities and outcomes for your patients. In summary:
-LISTEN
-HELP PEOPLE TO SEE THE FUTURE POSSIBILITIES
-ASK QUESTIONS TO ASSIST IN BREAKING ISSUES DOWN TO MANAGEABLE PARTS
When you follow these guidelines, you will become an enlightened therapist all year long.
Margery Pabst is the co-author of “Enrich Your Caregiving Journey”, the winner of the “2010 Caregiver Friendly Award” given by Today’s Caregiver Magazine and caregiving.com. The book is full of tips and tools for both professional and family caregivers. Find out more at www.pivotalcrossings.com.