I was selected for the HCPC Continuing Professional Development audit, so I’ve been reflecting on how we apply what we learn to our therapy. As I put together my CPD “portfolio” I noticed some common features of the CPD that I’d found most useful. I’ve used these common features to make my new conference an effective learning experience. 

I needed to demonstrate that the CPD I’d done:

• contributed to the quality of my practice and service delivery and,
• benefits the service user.

What makes learning easy to apply in therapy?

As I reviewed the entries in my CPD diary, I began to see some patterns. The learning I was able to apply immediately helped with a specific problem I was having, or a question I needed answering. For example, several parents told me that their children enjoyed music, but I was stuck with how to use music in a structured way, or how to incorporate my communication targets into musical play. I found a workshop about using music with children with autism that gave me some specific ideas to try to solve this problem. I went away and tried the ideas from the course in therapy sessions the very next week.

In order to apply what I’d learnt, I also needed it to be specific enough. I didn’t need all the answers but I needed to have enough detail to go away and try it. My supervision partner suggested I try incorporating more input tasks into my sessions with a particular client whose progress was slower than I wanted. If she’d left it like that, I think it’s unlikely I would have acted on the suggestion. She gave me three examples of therapy activities I could use, so I was ready to go. I used the activities she’d suggested as well as some of my own, and was happy with the result.

Finally, the learning needs to be relevant to my clients. It’s obvious: it’s tricky to apply learning about selective mutism if I’m not working with any children with selective mutism. Tricky, not impossible. It takes a lot more work to filter through information and pick out bits that would be useful with other children, who may, for example, be shy or lack confidence. And it takes time, which I don’t always have directly after a course or lecture.

Join us for the Therapy Ideas Live Conference

At the Therapy Ideas Live Conference on 2nd November, we’ll be practising person-centred techniques that help clients to meet their needs. We’ve designed the day to make it as easy as possible to apply what you learn at the conference, at work the next day. We’re starting the day figuring out what challenges we have and what questions we’d like to answer. There are workshop sessions, so together we can take what we’ve heard in the talks and apply it to our particular client group. We’ll be practising some of the techniques, so we can get specific, and we’re finishing the day by identifying our next steps. You’ll be all set to apply what you’ve learnt!

Join us for a practical day of interactive learning and workshopping. Register by 19th October to save £50. If you have any questions about the conference, get in touch.

I’m organising the Therapy Ideas Live Conference on 2 November 2015 in London. Speech and language therapists will practise person-centred techniques that help clients to meet their needs.

When I started working independently I looked for ways to continue developing my skills. I hoped attending conferences would allow me to learn new skills and meet other therapists, but I couldn’t find any that seemed to meet my needs.

I was looking for something that I’d be able to apply to my work immediately. I didn’t want to focus on a particular therapy technique or listen to lots of research presentations (although these things are valuable).  I briefly considered attending the ASHA convention, but I was overwhelmed at the idea of 12,000 attendees!

Announcing my new conference!

I couldn’t find the conference I wanted, so I’m starting my own!

For four years I’ve organised Therapy Ideas Live: after work events featuring 5-minute lightning talks about speech and language therapy. During that time I’ve also helped my partner Jonathan run conferences in a different industry. Now he’s helping me put on the first Therapy Ideas Live Conference on 2 November in London.

The conference will be a positive and inspiring experience. I hope people will leave excited to try out what they’ve learnt. All speech and language therapists are welcome! There’ll be a mix of speaker presentations, interviews and workshop sessions, with time to meet new people and discuss what you’ve learnt.

Person-centred techniques help clients meet their own needs

By making our therapy more person-centred we can position communication within broader life goals and help clients to motivate themselves to make progress. We’ll see goals met faster, without relying on “one size fits all” care pathways or increased workloads. We’ll see increased autonomy in clients as they work towards their goals independently, outside the therapy room.

Come to the conference to learn how to:

• set goals together with the client that are ambitious and motivating
• build empathy with clients (and their carers) to encourage them to make choices about therapy
• take risks during therapy to encourage learning together

 Join us for an upbeat day of learning and networking

If you come to this conference you’ll be part of a small, pioneering group. Everyone will participate in the same sessions which makes it easier to chat over coffee. Our 3 speakers show joy and enthusiasm for their work; it’s going to be an upbeat day, focussing on what we can achieve with the resources we have by working together.

Register by 31 July to save £50

Register by 31 July to save £50 with our early bird rate of £150. Check out the schedule and let me know if you have any questions. I hope you can make it!

Gina Davies—who is presenting at the conference—presenting a lightning talk at one of my events.

I’m on holiday in Tunisia! Travelling is a wonderful adventure, the food, architecture and landscape are exotic and exciting. Communication can be a challenge; although I’m a Speech and Language Therapist I’m not a natural linguist. My high school French is rusty and my Arabic skills stretch to hello & thank you, here in Tunisia I’m trying a total communication approach!

My French comprehension is better than my expression, so as long as people speak slowly I can understand the general gist. To respond I use the key words in French, muddled grammar, lots of facial expressions, and gestures. I sometimes find myself using Makaton signs. I’ve observed others using these naturalistic gestures too: looking for a table in a crowded cafe I made eye contact with a man who appeared to be done eating, he stood up and signed ‘finished.’

I’m fascinated by what we can communicate without words. Waiting in a mobile phone shop in the middle of the Medina, I had a whole conversation with the woman cleaning the floor, through eye contact & facial expressions – she gave me a look which told me how frustrated she was that someone had dragged a muddy trolley across her floor, I commiserated with another look and we’d connected.

There are interesting cultural variations in communication, such as volume! We’re staying in a fantastic Dar (mansion) in the Medina, with a view over a narrow, cobbled lane. We’ve heard quick-fire conversations in Arabic at a volume that at home would indicate a serious argument, but here seem to be a friendly chat!

Before I left for Tunisia I took a National Autistic Society webinar on PEERS, a social skills curriculum for adolescents with ASD. Elizabeth Laugeson talked about the importance of using concrete rules to teach teenagers how to have successful conversations. She discussed how they teach eye contact: coaching the students that they need to use it, but not to stare. With my limited (French & Arabic) language skills I’m reminded how important and powerful the non-verbal aspects of conversation are.

People in restaurants have been warm and welcoming, without using any words. However, my expressive skills in French are hampered by my reluctance to have a go—I feel self conscious. I don’t want my clients to feel this way. I try to cultivate the same warm, welcoming atmosphere in therapy sessions and demonstrate that it’s okay to make mistakes, so clients know it’s a safe place and don’t feel awkward or self conscious.

Tonight we’re heading out for dinner, and after writing this post I’m committing to practising my French by just having a go. I’m sure I’ll make lots of mistakes– it’s all part of learning!