#7404 RECORDED WEBINAR Managing Emotionally Difficult Conversations:Ethical and Relational Strategies

Course overview

Emotionally difficult or painful conversations are very common in health care. Consequently, it is quite remarkable that health care training programs do not spend more time teaching future health professionals the kinds of emotional and relational skills that are often required in these kinds of patient provider interactions. This presentation will discuss the architecture of the painful conversation by examining 1. Its effect on the professionals sense of self and especially his or her need to preserve self-esteem, 2. The critical role of feelings and emotions 3. The nature and value of empathy. The latter half of the presentation will consist of various strategic and practical recommendations so that emotionally challenging conversations might be conducted artfully. Additionally, content will be presented on numerous communication strategies that build rapport with patients, especially ones whose behavior is causing the health professional to feel disrespected, anxious, or angry. Topics will include the nature of the health professionals labeling certain patients or family members as difficult or impossible; the nature of the health professionals defenses when the professional is confronted with assaults to his or her self esteem, the need to understand the difficult patient rather than succumbing to the temptation to emotionally react and numerous what to say responses, especially when the communication seems uncomfortable. This presentation does not aim at teaching psychotherapy, but rather simple communication techniques that build rapport.