Better Communication in Occupational Health: Using a Cognitive Behavioural Approach to Achieve Better Outcomes

Course Aims/Summary

This course aims to provide physiotherapists with knowledge of the cognitive behavioural approach to pain management. It aims to give physiotherapists the knowledge, skills and confidence to be able to communicate effectively with their patients in order to best understand their needs and to enable them to take responsibility for their pain. This will involve understanding the key psychological factors shown in research to predict recovery and focusing on identifying biopsychosocial ‘flags’ that might act as barriers to improvement. There will be a strong focus on health behaviour change and ways to motivate patients to engage in treatment recommendations.
 

Course Objectives

On completion of this two day course, delegates will be able to: 

  • Discuss the evidence base relating to key psychological factors predicting pain experience and recovery
  • Discuss the cognitive behavioural approach to pain management including acceptance of pain and improvement of function
  • Use cognitive behavioural tools and techniques to facilitate behaviour change
  • Ask more effective questions around core ‘flag’ areas to fully understand patient’s beliefs about their pain and associated behaviours during an initial assessment
  • Hold structured review sessions by setting a clear agenda and following it
  • Negotiate with patients to set challenging but achievable ‘homework’ activities
  • Challenge patients to reflect on their behaviour and to reflect on what has to change to secure a good outcome for them

Pre Course

There are no pre-course conditions, apart from an interest in the biopsychosocial approach to pain management involving the use of cognitive behavioural techniques.

Presenter

Dr Julie Denning has worked in the field of pain management for the past 8 years for the leading pain management company in the UK. She has researched effective tools to screen for psychological risk factors associated with pain and has trained physiotherapists to deliver ‘psychosocial’ elements of a functional restoration programme. In her role as consultant Health Psychologist, she has also coached individual Physiotherapists to hone their skills in effective communication with patients in order to achieve outstanding results. Julie has an MSc and PhD in Health Psychology and a Diploma in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy.

Cost: £250 Lunch is included. 

Dates and Times: Thursday 10 and Friday 11 May 2012.  9.30am to 4.30pm

Venue: The Hunter Club, St Andrews Street South, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, IP33 3PJ

For further information please contact Julie Denning:

E-mail: julie.denning@m-rd.co.uk, Telephone: 07943 561 873

£250.00

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