This week is about kicking off a conversation with your patient in a way that captures their attention, while giving you an opportunity to provide useful and supportive nutrition education based on their clinical needs. 

But more than that, we’re going to be talking about setting a tone of judgment-free collaboration as you talk with your patients. 

We’ll practice:

• Listening with empathy and without judgement
• Using inclusive language and asking the right questions
• Recognizing a client’s level of readiness to make a change
• Receiving permission before giving out information

By keeping the focus on non-judgmental and empathetic communication, you’ll give your patients an opportunity to feel heard and acknowledged. By asking your patients permission before giving unsolicited information, you’ll make sure you’re offering them support in a way that is most useful to them.

Setting the tone isn’t just about asking the right questions. It’s also about listening carefully to what your patient says and allowing the conversation to naturally flow into a place that honors their personal choices and their readiness to change.

As you go through the lessons this week, think about some of these questions and focus your practice on the parts your struggle with the most.

• How often to do you talk over or interrupt your client?
• Do you clarify what your client has said or assume you know their meaning?
• Have you found yourself giving advice before you client asks for it?
• Do you give only the information your client asked for? Or do you take liberties in educating on what you consider most important?