Travelling back in time.....

I’m reading Roger Neighbour's new book ‘Consulting in a Nutshell’(1). He wrote ‘The Inner Consultation’(2) back in 1992, one of the biggest influences on my consulting style. This reminded me of an observation I did a long time ago: I was observing one of my colleagues consult with a new patient, in order to give her some feedback. She did a great case history, asking all the right questions relevant to his complaint, and developing a good rapport with him..

She asked him to take his shirt off, in order to examine him. He stood up and turned away from her, towards me, unbuttoning his shirt. As he did that, my colleague looked at her computer screen and typed another couple of notes.

As he took his shirt off, I could see that he had extensive scalding scars on his torso. During the case history he had mentioned an accident as a child, so I was not surprised to see them. He looked directly at me as he removed his shirt, and as I looked into his eyes, for a second, I travelled back in time, and saw his past. I saw the face of a child in pain, needing reassurance that he would be OK, an expression of embarrassment, a history of being taunted in the changing room, a fear of being rejected by potential lovers, of being alone. He seemed so…..vulnerable….

And then it was gone…… It was like he put on a vest of bullet-proof armour, and I couldn’t see his soul anymore. He had said nothing.

My colleague examined him and then told him what she thought was causing his problem. She probably scheduled him some treatment, I can’t remember.

As I say, it was a long time ago, but I’ll never forget being able to see the 1 second film of his life: pain, vulnerability, sadness, and what a survivor he was.

Questions:

• If I was the practitioner, how would the insight that I had, influence my care of him?

• Have you ever had a momentary glimpse of someone’s past?

Reading:

1. Consulting in a Nutshell. Neighbour, Roger. 2024

2. The Inner Consultation: How to develop an Effective and Intuitive Consulting Style. Neighbour, Roger. 1992

I am a chiropractor and sonographer. I also mentor colleagues to help them become the clinicians that they want to become. Find out more here.