The Art and Science of the Initial Consultation

The focus of the initial consultation is to create a strong Empathetic Connection with the client & to be the source of Direction and Guidance for the client.

To be able to help foster clients in the right continuum of recovery one must seek to abide by the two rules on the first visit.

1. The Client must feel understood

2. The Client must feel like they are in the right place (or have found the right doctor to help them)

The importance of this goes both ways.

In order to help clients on their specific problem list. One must first seek to understand.

In order to help guide and facilitate healing & rehabilitation. One must first be seen as the node to direct and guide people.

In this time-frame take time to Slow down the pace of your Initial Consultation to build rapport and empathetic relationship.

The role of empathy in medicine is powerful:

Please see References for Empathy Below

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In summary Empathy and a connection with the client allows us to be more — invested in them as an individual.

It allows us to understand their:

• Unique problems
• Personality Type (Personality Archetypes) (Love Languages) (Needs)
• Identify barriers to recovery

When we have successfully identified that — only then can we Build a Clinically relevant, Clinically Certain treatment plan that aligns with the client’s needs, hopes and expectations.

Every bit of information (Subjectively, Objectively), data point(s), body language structure must be taken into account in order to allow the client to be ready to move onto the next step which is planning to Predict, Change and Ensure their live outcomes.

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So here’s the Initial consultation flow template that I go with. Remember that it is paramount that you not only use it as a checklist when entering an initial consultation — but to inject your personality into it. No single practitioner will do it the same way.

And remember — no two initial consultations are the same. Every encounter with a new client is unique.

INITIAL CONSULTATION FLOW TEMPLATE

Begin with the goal in mind which is:

• to Understand Trauma and Case History
• to get a glimpse of what their Life may be like (Put yourself in their shoes)
• to understand Goals (Immediate & Medium Term & Long Term)

Examination Process & Steps

Step 1.

Find common Ground (Based on how they found you — Referral source or Friend?)

Step 2.

Let them talk 60–90 seconds WITHOUT INTERRUPTION, people take that long to actually “Feel” heard… Actually be a good listener -> So you can find the chief complaint in their dialogue.

Watch your body language, non-verbal cues…. Watch theirs as well.

Step 3.

Pre-Consultation : Explain slightly how we gonna find the root of their problem/ identify things for them.

Step 4.

Understand their Exacerbating Factors / Easing Factors.

ASK GOOD RELEVANT QUESTIONS HERE.

Step 5.

Trauma History.

Step 6.

Life Effects.

Step 7.

Perform a great assessment. (In the case of Allied Health — an awesome Orthopedic assessment)

• Relate it back to their Subjective History…
• Their Exacerbating factors or Easing Factors (Bonus brownie points if you can show it and prove it to them on the spot)
• Find interesting correlations.

Step 7.

Get Meaningful Goals from them-> AND WRITE THEM DOWN