COUNSELLING SKILLS FOR DIETITIANS 2E

Dietitians need to use advanced communication skills as well as technical expertise in order to assess clients’ needs, identify their problems and help them to manage their diet and lifestyle. The ability to develop a helping relationship is fundamental to achieving a mutually satisfactory dietetic interview. Counselling skills, defined as advanced communication skills used intentionally in a helping relationship, are therefore essential for good dietetic practice at all levels of the profession.

This book demonstrates how a practitioner can develop a counselling approach and employ appropriate counselling skills to overcome the communication difficulties encountered by dietitians and those engaged in helping clients change their eating behaviour.

New material in the second edition includes an expanded section on the patient interview including assessing motivation and applying aspects of CBT (cognitive behavioural therapy) and a new section on personal development including examples and discussion on issues of interprofessional communication and working in a multidisciplinary team.

Judy Gable had a career in dietetics before training as a counsellor and has trained dietitians in communication skills for many years. She currently works as an accredited counsellor in primary care.

Foreword.

Acknowledgements.

Introduction.

Part 1: A counselling approach.

The dietitian as a skilled helper.

The patient.

The relationship between dietitian and patient.

Working together.

Part 2: The Skills.

Active listening.

Responding.

Making helpful interventions.

Part 3: The patient interview.

Developing a framework.

Loss and bereavement.

Parents and children.

Transcultural communication.

Working with difficulties in physical and mental health.

Putting it into practice.

Part 4: Areas for personal development.

Dealing with difficult situations at work.

Support for the dietitian.

Summaries and points for discussion.

Appendices.

Further reading.

Useful addresses.

Index