Pain and injury can occur at any time of the year, but winter is a particularly harsh time, especially here in Canada. The extreme drop in temperatures can leave the body feeling more susceptible to existing pain and more exposed to new kinds of physical challenges. For example, when we are cold, our body restricts how much blood it sends to the extremities, like our hands and feet. This can leave the tissues and joints in those areas feeling stiff or uncomfortable. Not to mention, there’s an obvious risk of physical injury that comes with the snow and ice on the ground. 

As an osteopathic manual practitioner working all year round, you’ll probably notice a change in physical difficulties that patients experience in the winter months. Here’s a quick look at some things to watch for when working with patients during this period. 

Expect to See Injuries from Snow and Ice as an Osteopathy Professional

As the snow settles on the ground, the number of injuries due to trips and falls inevitably increases. No matter how well the snow and ice are removed from streets, slippery surfaces are almost unavoidable in the winter. As an osteopathy professional, you’ll likely face clients who have had mishaps from shoveling snow, winter sports, or simply walking outdoors. Elderly people or those with reduced mobility are at even greater risk of injury in these conditions. 

If left untreated, these injuries–even minor ones–can lead to physical difficulties across other areas of the body. It is the job of the osteopathic manual practitioner to support the body’s ability to self-heal in the face of injury while advising clients on how they can avoid winter-related injuries in the future–for example, by wearing footwear with the proper treads.

Flare-ups of Existing Pain

Unfortunately, winter is a time when old injuries and pre-existing conditions can rear their ugly heads. The reduced blood flow and the increase in sedentary living that the cold weather brings can cause an imbalance in the systems and functions of the whole body. When the body is in a more vulnerable state, ongoing pain or previous injuries can become more pronounced. As an osteopathic manual practitioner, your goal will be to return the body to a state of health so it can self-regulate and manage those difficulties. 

With training from the Canadian Academy of Osteopathy, you’ll gain a comprehensive understanding of osteopathic principles, which focus on locating and treating the underlying cause of the discomfort, as opposed to the obvious symptoms of pain. This classical training grants students an in-depth understanding of anatomy and physiology so that they can treat the layers of bodily structure on a personalized, individual level.

The Effects of Reduced Physical Activity in the Winter,

During your osteopathy specialization, you’ll notice that many clients complain of greater stiffness or more physical aches during the winter months. Often, stiffness can be attributed to changes in physical activity that the winter brings. With the cold weather, people tend to spend less time outdoors and more time cooped up inside. 

Along with the manual therapy you perform as an osteopathic manual practitioner, you can advise patients to exercise regularly to build up their muscle strength and reduce pressure on the joints. Stretching and moving daily will help to loosen up stiff joints during the winter. With training at CAO, you’ll be ready to offer safe, effective, and ethical treatments to clients to support the well-being of their whole body. 

Are you interested in working toward your osteopathy career advancement? 

Get started with the Canadian Academy of Osteopathy today!

The post Helping Clients in the Winter: What to Expect as an Osteopathy Professional appeared first on Canadian Academy of Osteopathy.

As a patient-centred profession, osteopathic manual practitioners need to develop a number of professional skills that can help them deliver safe, effective, and ethical treatments. Along with the practical techniques of the profession, you’ll need to know how to approach patients with care and understanding while arriving at the best possible solution for the individual. Interpersonal skills and critical thinking are essential qualities to build during your training. 

While working on challenging osteopathic problems and gaining real clinical experience, students at CAO learn firsthand the importance of applying these professional skills to their practice. Here’s a look at some of the top skills you’ll need to use during and after your osteopathy training. 

1. Good Communication Skills Are Important

When working with patients of any kind, good interpersonal and communication skills are essential. When it comes to osteopathy, your patients will be looking for you to assist them with a number of physical problems. Treating those clients with respect, empathy, and your full attention will reassure them that they’re in safe hands. At the same time, a big part of communication is listening to your client carefully. Let them explain what they are experiencing and their health history. In turn, you can customize a treatment just for them. By building a positive rapport with patients from the get-go, you can maintain good professional relationships with clients throughout your career.

2. Exercise Your Problem-Solving Skills

In an osteopathy specialization, you’ll be working with clients experiencing a variety of different challenges, from postural problems to sports injuries to long-term pain to sleeping difficulty. Every patient is different, and their symptoms will present in different ways. As an osteopathic manual practitioner, you’ll need to apply your knowledge of osteopathic principles and surgical level functional anatomy to pinpoint the osteopathic lesion. Often, a patient may be experiencing pain in one area of the body while the source of the pain is located somewhere else. In that case, good problem-solving skills will help you to consider all possibilities and arrive at the right course of action for your patient.

3. Pay Attention to Detail as an Osteopathic Manual Practitioner

Strong attention to detail will help you look beyond where symptoms may be expressing themselvews and consider the whole body. At CAO, we focus on teaching principles-based osteopathy in which students get an in-depth understanding of anatomy and physiology so they can treat the layers of bodily structure on a personalized level. Our students learn to closely examine all the interrelated symptoms and functions of the body–including the bones, muscles, joints, ligaments, systems, viscera and fascia. By developing this kind of attention to detail, our students are able to look beyond the surface of pain and find ways to return the body to normal health so it can self-heal and self-regulate.

4. Practice Adaptability When Working With Patients

A good osteopathic manual practitioner doesn’t see themselves as a healer but as a facilitator of health. You’ll be working with the body to restore its natural balance and functions rather than imposing treatments upon it. Working with the body in this way requires a certain level of flexibility. You’ll need to adapt your practice to the physical condition, medical history, and personal preferences of the patient. Often, you may have a solution in mind that does not work with a specific patient’s body. In that case, keeping an open mind when trying a new course of action will help you better accommodate the needs of the individual. 

Are you interested in training as an osteopathy professional?

Start your career with the Canadian Academy of Osteopathy today!

The post 4 Professional Skills You’ll Use as an Osteopathic Manual Practitioner appeared first on Canadian Academy of Osteopathy.

The faculty at the Canadian Academy of Osteopathy is passionate about inspiring the next generation of osteopathic manual practitioners. At CAO, we promise you a challenging, engaging, and rewarding learning experience that exceeds your expectations–and this is all thanks to the commitment of our instructors.

Throughout the four-year program, your classes will be led by experienced educators who are passionate about what they do and experts in their fields. Whether you’re learning about osteopathic theory and principles or getting hands-on training in our clinic, our instructors are there to support your understanding at every stage. Here’s a closer look at what distinguishes the faculty at CAO.

Working Professionals in the Osteopathy Field

A unique quality of the faculty at our osteopathy academy is that all of our instructors are industry-experienced professionals; they actively work (or have experience working) as osteopathic manual practitioners. Many even run their own private practices alongside their work at CAO. In a learning environment that is led by professionals with a foot in the industry and an understanding of current osteopathic practices, you can be sure that your training is tailored to the needs of clients today. 

Diverse Backgrounds and Experiences

Each instructor at CAO has taken a different path to become an osteopathy professional. Each one has now built a successful and rewarding career as an osteopathic manual practitioner and is able to guide students of all backgrounds and experience levels. 

Their various interests in the field of osteopathy allow them to offer more specialized training to our students. For example, CAO Professor Cole Ruston opened a clinic with an emphasis on educating patients on the value of general movement and other health practices.

Many of our instructors are even alumni of CAO. They know the curriculum inside out and are able to offer more focused support to help you navigate the program. Students can learn from the personal experiences of those who came before them and gain inspiration for their own professional pathways.

Ready to Offer Personalized Support at Our Osteopathy Academy

Our outstanding teacher-to-student ratio ensures you get the individual attention and academic support you deserve, allowing you to achieve the highest level of comprehension and achievement possible. Whether you’re working in the classroom or our free public clinic, the instructors are there to supervise and guide your training with hands-on support. 

You’ll gain expertise in a variety of areas, such as clinical anatomy & physiology, osteopathic history & theory, principles in practice, and more. In each area, our instructors will make sure you’re progressing through your education at the right pace and understanding how each topic feeds into the next. You’ll feel fully supported throughout your education, with access to lifelong career support after graduating. 

Ready to start your career as an osteopathic manual practitioner?

Contact the Canadian Academy of Osteopathy today!

The post What Makes the Faculty at Our Osteopathy Academy Special? appeared first on Canadian Academy of Osteopathy.

The Canadian Academy of Osteopathy is a leading Osteopathy school, delivering a challenging and comprehensive program that prepares graduates for a successful career. Our students range from those working as healthcare professionals to those with a degree in Health Science to those with limited or no healthcare background at all. Whatever your motivations for attending osteopathy school, you likely have some questions about what to expect as an incoming student. 

At CAO, our team of experienced instructors and the community-centred environment are there to ease the transition to the program for every student. To get you started, here’s a closer look at what to expect in the first year of our osteopathy program. Feel confident and prepared as you begin your journey to a new career!

Preparing for the Curriculum at Our Osteopathy School

Students at CAO come from all different backgrounds and with various levels of experience in the health care field. We teach osteopathy as a practice in and of itself–not as an add-on to other modalities– and we want every student to start with the same level of knowledge. 

For those with limited experience in health care (personal trainers, pilates or yoga instructors, etc.) or no health care background at all, we have you covered! Our Year 1 Prep course is open for those students to learn and review essential anatomy and physiology content before beginning Year 1 of the program. Students with a degree in Health Science may be eligible to bypass this induction course. Regardless of your level of experience, you can expect to enter our osteopathy school with the foundation you need to excel.

A Strong Focus on Osteopathic Theory and Principles

The program is rooted in a classical and principles-based understanding of osteopathic thinking, assessment, and treatment. This approach to osteopathy training begins in Year 1. 

As a first-year student, you can expect to build an in-depth understanding of anatomy and physiology, preparing to treat the layers of bodily structure on a personalized, individual level. Our curriculum covers three core areas: Principles and Practice, Osteopathic Theory and History, and Health Sciences. Instead of jumping right into skills training and memorizing osteopathic techniques, you’ll explore the “who, what, where, when, and why” behind osteopathic assessment and treatments. By adopting a fully integrated osteopathic model that views the body as a whole dynamic system, you’ll develop the foundation to diagnose and treat patients more effectively. 

Supervised Practice in Our Student Clinics

From Year 1, we want students at our osteopathy academy to develop their confidence in a clinical setting. After all, osteopathy is a hands-on, people-oriented practice, so it’s important to understand how its theories and principles apply to a real-world setting. While training in our practice clinic, you’ll learn to report patient history, understand how to catch symptoms of the body, practice assessing fellow students, and practice intake procedures. This will give you a strong foundation of skills and techniques to use in our charitable Public Clinic, where you’ll hone in on these important clinical skills. Under the supervision of our professional instructors, get ready to apply your knowledge in a practical and supportive space.

Are you interested in training to become an osteopathy professional?

Contact the Canadian Academy of Osteopathy to get started.

The post What to Expect as a First-Year Student in Osteopathy School appeared first on Canadian Academy of Osteopathy.

The Canadian Academy of Osteopathy offers a world-class osteopathy education as well as an engaging community of like-minded people–all working in or towards a career in osteopathy. This kind of environment is one of support and encouragement. You’ll have the chance to connect with people on a similar path to you and build a network of friends to learn from and study with throughout your time at CAO. With small class sizes and a range of fun student events, we offer numerous opportunities for you to get to know your classmates and make the most of your time in the program. Here’s a closer look at how CAO creates a strong community dynamic for your education.

Participate in Student Events at Our Osteopathy Academy

Student life is an important part of the experience at CAO. Over our four-year program, we encourage every student to participate in school events and get involved in the community outside of the classroom. To encourage close-knit relationships between students, we’ve created a Student Council with representatives from each class. This group works together to organize a whole host of community events, including potluck dinners, pub nights, annual celebrations and more. Events like these help our students make new friends across all years and enrich their time at our school. If you’re looking for a fun and social learning experience, the community at our osteopathy academy awaits. 

Learn With the Support of Your Peers

Our student body comes together to support one another and ensure that each student has a rewarding experience in training for a new career in osteopathy. When you learn alongside a motivated and passionate group of people, you find the path to success becomes that much easier. 

In every year, you’ll find student tutors who are there to support your osteopathy career advancement, offering their own knowledge and experience as a learning resource. In addition, students in year 4 will act as Teaching Assistants and tutors for under-year students. This is their chance to instruct and guide other students while improving their own understanding of the osteopathy clinical practice as a whole. At the same time, under-year students volunteer as bodies in upper-year clinics, lending more experience to their peers.  

In small classes, you’ll have the chance to build a lasting network of aspiring osteopathy professionals to study with and support one another through your journey.

Join a Community of Osteopathy Professionals 

The community dynamic at CAO extends beyond the student body. When you enroll, you have the chance to connect with alumni who are working in the field, as well as our amazing faculty of experienced osteopathic manual practitioners. This is a great resource to see you through the four-year program and into a successful career. Our outstanding teacher-to-student ratio ensures you get the individual attention and academic support you deserve, allowing you to achieve the highest level of comprehension and achievement possible. In a supportive environment, you can ask questions, make mistakes, and gain confidence in your skills as an osteopathy professional. 

Upon graduating, you’ll be part of a lasting community of students, alumni, and teachers, all of whom can guide and inspire you throughout your career. 

Are you interested in training to become an osteopathy professional?

Contact the Canadian Academy of Osteopathy to learn more about our program. 

The post How We Create a Community-Centred Dynamic at Our Osteopathy School appeared first on Canadian Academy of Osteopathy.

As an osteopathic manual practitioner, your job is to support the body’s ability to self-heal and self-regulate. Osteopathic manual practitioners don’t see themselves as healers but rather facilitators of health. Instead of imposing treatments on the body, you’ll work with the body to return it to its normal state of function and health. That means a fundamental understanding of the body, its systems, and structures are essential to offering the right support to your clients. 

At CAO, anatomy and physiology are built into the curriculum at every stage of learning. Students gain an in-depth understanding of the body, so they are able to treat its layers on an individual level. Here’s a closer look at the importance of studying anatomy and how CAO supports your knowledge. 

Understand Different Physical Challenges as an Osteopathy Professional

In your osteopathy career, you’ll be working with clients experiencing a number of different physical difficulties. Some people may come to you with a sports-related injury or long-term pain. Other clients may be experiencing digestive issues, postural problems, sleep problems, stress and more. In each case, your understanding of anatomy–the joints, muscles, and systems of the body–will guide you in diagnosing and treating different physical problems. 

To ensure that every student is up to speed with their anatomy and physiology knowledge, CAO offers a Year 1 Prep course to help you learn and review this essential content. This is a great option for those with limited experience in healthcare. You can be sure you have the fundamentals down as you prepare to become an osteopathic manual practitioner. 

Work with the Interrelated Systems of the Body

As a non-invasive manual therapy, osteopathy aims to improve health across the body by manipulating and strengthening the musculoskeletal framework. Instead of just targeting the area where a client feels pain, an osteopathic practitioner will try to locate the root cause of the problem and work to restore balance in all the body’s systems. This approach requires you to understand how physical problems in one area can impact another and how the different joints, muscles, and bones in the body support one another. 

Our curriculum is designed to comprehensively cover clinical anatomy and physiology. Our focus on anatomy moves away from the traditional allopathic model and toward a fully integrated osteopathic model that examines the body as a whole dynamic body of function. This is key to not just treating pain in the short-term but providing overall good health and wellbeing. 

Treat the Body on a Personalized Level

A good osteopathy professional understands that every client’s body and physical experience of it are different. The approach you take with each patient will be based on the individual, their health history, and the symptoms they describe. Having an in-depth understanding of anatomy –including its variations–will help you to treat the layers of bodily structure on a personalized, individual level to better support each patient. 

You’ll have the chance to apply your knowledge of anatomy and physiology to real-life patients in our free public clinic. Here, you’ll learn how to catch red flags, signs or symptoms of the body and hone in on evaluating physical problems. With the right theory and practice, you’ll be ready to embark on a specialized career in the healthcare field. 

Are you looking to train as an osteopathic manual practitioner? 

Start your career with the program at the Canadian Academy of Osteopathy today.

The post 3 Reasons Why Studying Anatomy Is Important to Become an Osteopathic Manual Practitioner appeared first on Canadian Academy of Osteopathy.

Are you looking for a rewarding career in the healthcare field? Do you want to learn how to treat patients on a holistic and individualized level? If yes, working as an osteopathic manual practitioner could be the right choice for you. 

Training in osteopathy is a challenging and dynamic path that prepares you to deliver non-invasive, manual therapy to patients as a form of complementary care. With a strong understanding of the systems and functions of the body, osteopathic manual practitioners support the body’s ability to self-heal. 

The type of approach you take to your training will largely depend upon the program you choose. The Canadian Academy of Osteopathy offers a comprehensive four-year program that follows a unique, principles-based curriculum. If you’re wondering whether this path is right for you, read on to discover what to expect from an education at the CAO. 

In-Depth Knowledge of Osteopathic Principles

At CAO, we believe that osteopathy should be taught as a profession in and of itself. What does this mean for you? Learning about osteopathic principles, history and theory is essential to developing a true and complete understanding of the practice. Rather than seeing osteopathy as an “add-on” to other modalities, we teach students to look at anatomy and physiology through an osteopathic lens, examining the body as a whole dynamic system. 

By focusing on the theory and application of these principles, students gain a comprehensive understanding of osteopathy and are better able to diagnose and treat their patients. You’ll go beyond memorizing manual skills and techniques to explore the ‘who, what, where, when, and why’ behind osteopathic assessment and treatment.

Hands-on Clinical Experience

Since osteopathy is a hands-on profession, we think it’s essential for students to have the space to put their knowledge and skills to practice. That’s why our osteopathy school offers a free public clinic in which you can treat real-life patients! Patients in the community come to the clinic for assessments or ongoing care, giving students the opportunity to develop clinical skills and client relationships in an environment that benefits all. 

Students will also have the chance to work with their fellow students in our practice clinic, where they have the space to try out new osteopathic techniques and learn from one another. Under the supervision of professional osteopathic manual practitioners, you’ll gain confidence in delivering safe and effective treatment. 

A Pathway to a Practical Career

First and foremost, the program at CAO is here to prepare you to become a working professional. With a growing demand for Osteopathic Manual Practitioners across Canada, graduates can enjoy the benefits of both business and job opportunities, whether they intend to stay in Ontario or practice in another province. Not to mention, with our principles-based training, you can stand out in your knowledge as an osteopathy professional. 

Graduates have gone on to work in public clinics or even open their own private clinics. Whatever career path you’re gunning for, you can expect to receive the highest standards of osteopathy education in Canada and be ready to enter your preferred osteopathic care environment.

Ready to begin your osteopathy career advancement?

Contact the Canadian Academy of Osteopathy to get started!

The post 3 Things to Expect When You Attend Osteopathy School appeared first on Canadian Academy of Osteopathy.

At the Canadian Academy of Osteopathy, students not only gain osteopathic skills and techniques–they come to understand the founding principles and theory that those techniques rely on. This unique approach is what distinguishes training at CAO.

By focusing on the theory and application of these principles, students gain a comprehensive understanding of osteopathy and are better able to assess and treat their patients. As a graduate of CAO, you’ll feel confident in your knowledge of the practice of osteopathy as a whole. Read on to learn more about what a principles-based education has to offer.

Develop a Deeper Understanding of Osteopathic Theory and Principles 

Some osteopathy taught around the world focuses on a series of memorized techniques for different parts of the body. However, this kind of approach lacks the founding principles and theory that manual osteopathy relies on. CAO is proud to stand as Canada’s Premiere principles-based osteopathy school, offering a curriculum that aims to meet or exceed the international standards for osteopathy education. 

Our students are given a solid understanding of a variety of areas, such as clinical anatomy and physiology, osteopathic theory, principles in practice and much more. They not only learn the appropriate techniques to use but also examine the osteopathic history and debate the applications of these theories in practice. In preparing for an osteopathy specialization, students come to examine everything about the body–its anatomy and functions–through an osteopathic lens. 

Problem Solve Using Osteopathic Reason as an Osteopathy Professional

Osteopathy is a manual form of therapy that emphasizes the relationship between the structure and function of the human body. The practice is grounded in a belief in the body’s ability to self-heal and self-regulate; osteopathic manual practitioners work as facilitators of health. 

Above all, this practice requires you to work with complex layers of bodily structure. Osteopathic manual practitioners must take into account all the systems and mechanisms of the body to understand how one affects the other. The principles-based training at the CAO provides this essential knowledge of anatomy and physiology, allowing you to problem-solve issues on an individual level. 

Build Your Confidence as an Osteopathy Professional

As with any healthcare profession, it’s important to understand more than just the application of techniques; you need to understand the why and how of the practice. With a true understanding of osteopathic principles, students find themselves able to see the body through an osteopathic lens and think osteopathically. You’ll have the chance to put these principles and theories to practice in CAO’s Osteopathic Principles & Practice Lab, led by our experienced faculty. As you work towards your osteopathy career advancement, this kind of confidence in your own knowledge base is essential to helping you deliver safe, effective and individualized treatment. 

Are you interested in training as an osteopathy professional?

Contact the Canadian Academy of Osteopathy to get started.

The post Why Choose a Principles-Based Education for Your Osteopathy Specialization? appeared first on Canadian Academy of Osteopathy.

Osteopathy is a manual form of therapy that helps to strengthen the framework of the body and support the health of joints and muscles. By treating the layers of bodily structure on a personalized level, osteopathy can be very beneficial to many people with a variety of physical strains. 

Osteopathic patients include young people, older people, manual workers, office professionals, pregnant women and athletes. As an osteopathic manual practitioner, you may be assisting these patients in overcoming pain from strain, recurring conditions, headaches, and more. Here’s a closer look at some of the physical problems that you may be treating as an osteopathic manual practitioner.

Physical Strain

Sports are some of the leading causes of strain on the body. Activities like running can cause stress on the joints and muscles, particularly those in the hips and knees. Likewise, weight lifting can lead to muscular strain in the back. Using non-invasive manual techniques, as an osteopathic manual practitioner you can help to support and strengthen the affected area. 

At the Canadian Academy of Osteopathy, students explore hands-on practices in the classroom labs, with the chance to put those skills to work on real patients in our free public osteopathy clinic. Our students are given a solid understanding of the founding theory and principles of osteopathy, paired with an in-depth look at functional anatomy and physiology. By understanding the relationship between the structure and function of the human body, you can help your patients return to a normal level of activity and advise them on ways they can reduce the chance of repetitive discomfort. 

Long-Term Discomfort and Healing

Many people who seek osteopathy treatment are dealing with consistent, long-term pain or recurring problems. This includes things like headaches, difficulty sleeping, prolonged stress, low energy levels, or bodily pain. When a patient experiences this kind of long-term discomfort, it can often affect the efficiency of the whole body and its ability to function on multiple levels. 

As an osteopathic manual practitioner, you’ll look beyond the immediate symptoms and aim to restore the balance between the underlying systems of the body. This includes things like the nervous system, the lymphatic system and blood flow–which are vital to the body’s ability to heal and self-regulate. 

Students at our osteopathy academy will dive into clinical anatomy and physiology, moving away from the traditional allopathic model and toward a fully integrated osteopathic model that examines the body as a whole dynamic body of function. This prepares you to treat complex problems on a deeper and more sustainable level. 

Posture and Relaxation

The stresses of modern life can take a huge toll on the body. Many people spend hours sitting at a desk and computer or working manual labour jobs. All of these activities can result in poor posture and eventually lead to hip, neck or back pain. That’s why it’s become increasingly common for people to seek osteopathic treatment to manage the effects of their work or personal lives. As an osteopathic manual practitioner, you can help to realign the structures of the body and restore it to its natural state. With a strong understanding of osteopathic theory and principles, you’ll be ready to assess and treat the body on a personalized, individual level. 

Are you interested in a career as an osteopathy professional? 

Get started with training at the Canadian Academy of Osteopathy!

The post 3 Patient Issues You May Encounter as An Osteopathic Manual Practitioner appeared first on Canadian Academy of Osteopathy.

Osteopathy practitioners work as facilitators to health, communicating with their patients in order to assess their musculoskeletal condition and provide effective non-invasive therapy. Throughout the job, osteopathy practitioners work on fostering meaningful relationships with their patients. This process can help you build trust with your patient and ensure that their treatment is a pleasant experience.

Developing strong communication skills is essential in the clinical environment, influencing the therapeutic process as well as interpersonal relationships with patients. By taking a proactive approach to improve these skills, you can elevate your practice and create a more open and welcoming space for your patients—helping them get the care and support they need to feel healthier.

Here are some methods you can integrate into your clinical practice to more effectively communicate with your patients after your osteopathy training.

1. Heightening Your Sense of Awareness to Better Focus on Your Patient’s Needs 

Having a heightened sense of awareness is a big aspect of a good osteopathy practice, allowing practitioners to better cater to their patients’ needs. Here, your attentiveness and focus on your client can even demonstrate your eagerness to provide them with the best treatment possible, tailoring your efforts to better suit their individual needs.

You can practice being attentive as you conduct interviews and intake procedures, monitoring your client and paying close attention to their responses. Paraphrasing what they say throughout a consultation and asking whether or not you’ve understood them correctly can help you show that you care about their health and are willing to take active measures to ensure they get the right treatment.

By going to osteopathy school, you can hone in on observing and evaluating patients to further develop this skill. With this training, you can even learn to apply your sense of awareness to other facets of your clinical practice in order to cultivate a positive environment for your patients. 

2. Embracing Empathy and Ethics for Positive Interpersonal Relationships

Providing an inviting, safe and empathic environment for treatment is important for patients—and it hinges on establishing good communication. This includes actively trying to understand your patients and viewing things from their perspective. Doing so can help put your patients at ease and encourage them to open up to you.

In addition to empathy, you’ll want to focus on your tone, how you convey information and your body language as well as that of your patient’s. This will help you maintain clear professional-patient boundaries, ensuring that the ethical code remains intact and that patients are involved and in agreement with each aspect of their treatment. As a result, they will likely feel more confident and comfortable under your care, developing trust that leads to a longer-term connection with you.    

3. Gaining Hands-On Experience through Clinical Practice at Our Osteopathy School

Having real-world experience can play a key role in your success in the field, giving you the confidence you need to work directly with your patients. To promote your osteopathy career advancement, CAO enables you to work with real-life patients at our practice clinic. This way, you can develop strong communication and clinical skills under the guidance of professional osteopathic manual practitioners.

After honing your skills during your under-year clinical practicum, you’ll have the chance to take the lead on real patient treatments and work on fostering relationships at our upper-year clinic. You’ll also get the opportunity to work with patients in the community, giving back while learning in a supportive environment designed to promote your professional growth.

Are you interested in becoming an osteopathy professional?

Contact the Canadian Academy of Osteopathy to learn more!

The post 3 Ways to Communicate Effectively with Patients After Osteopathy School appeared first on Canadian Academy of Osteopathy.