Putting patient counseling into practice

Dr. Regina Jokel (with her colleagues Lisa Guttman Sokoloff and Cathy M. Smith) has published a book chapter on teaching students how to counsel patients and family members about test results and treatment plans. This chapter is part of the book series “Comprehensive Healthcare Simulation” and is aimed at educators and students in Speech-Language Pathology (SLP).

The chapter is based on a Unit 6 Integrated Learning Experience that Dr. Jokel developed for the Year 2 students in the department. It took place again this November. In small groups, the students worked through a case to determine clinical features and develop a treatment plan. They met with a patient who shared insights on his diagnosis and answered questions. After finalizing their treatment plan, the Year 2 students practiced their counseling skills in a simulation with actors who portrayed different family members.

The key learning objectives for the students included:

• Sharing Information: Clearly communicating assessment findings and treatment plans with family members.
• Responding to Concerns: Addressing questions and concerns from family members with appropriate information.
• Supportive Counselling: Demonstrating supportive counselling techniques to help family members understand and cope with the information.

This educational approach helps students develop their counselling skills in a supportive setting, better preparing them for real-world clinical interactions. A big thank-you to Dr. Jokel for creating this leaning experience for our students!