02/09/2023
☀️Goals ☀️
Thinking about your own goals, who set them? You? Or someone else?
Did your therapist tell you to set a goal about getting to bed on time, or to aim for 5:30min/Kms with your running program? Or to sign up for your next uni course.
I didn’t think so…
But here we are, jumping in for our clients, & setting their goals for them.
- Make sure you walk everyday- but they could hate walking or have too much knee pain.
- Make sure you eat vegetables- but they may have never eaten vegetables even pre injury
- Complete your exercise program 3 x a week- but they have no idea how straightening their knee 10 times relates to walking better in their home.
Do we jump in because we hate the silent pause the client gives us when we ask what their goals are? Does the silence make us comfortable so we aim to fill it?
Are we to time poor or focused on the next thing, that we don’t allow time to have a conversation about what is important to our client and what makes “them” them.
Reflect on your practice and see what’s holding you back from getting to know your clients better.
We aren’t perfect, I found out the other week my client loves dancing- and I’ve been her therapist for 3 years! I felt ashamed and embarrassed that I had missed such an important aspect of her identity.
Take the time, set goals together, don’t jump in to fill the silence, ask your client what makes “them” them. Change your mindset.
You’ll be surprised with the buy in you get, and the increase in client motivation and fulfilment.
Neurolab PT
Chloe.physiotherapy@gmail.com