Unconditional positive regard is a concept that was initially coined by Carl Rogers, a leader in the field of human mental health. The practice of unconditional positive regard in veterinary medicine suggests that the clinician approaches each client as an individual. Clients are valued and accepted for who they are rather than held to standards that they are incapable of meeting.
The intent behind unconditional positive regard is to transform the examination room into a safe zone, where clients can feel free to be themselves, ask questions, and air concerns. Even patients that are so-called “difficult” should not be labeled as such. Instead, the clinician should focus on shared common ground:
- What do both individuals want to achieve?
- How can they work together to achieve it?
This webinar will introduce the communication skill of regard and highlight how its use may be incorporated into clinical practice in a way that builds the veterinary-client relationship.
Recording from 25.02.2020
Speaker:
Ryane Englar
Ryane E. Englar, DVM, DABVP (Canine and Feline Practice) is an Assistant Professor and Clinical Education Coordinator at Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine.
In February 2014, Dr. Englar relocated to Arizona, where she was founding faculty for Midwestern University College of Veterinary Medicine. As an Assistant Professor of Small Animal Primary Care, she designed and debuted the communications coursework for the inaugural class of 2018.
Dr. Englar joined the faculty at Kansas State University in May 2017 to build the clinical skills curriculum for first and second year veterinary students. Her coursework emphasizes hands-on training with the opportunity for practice and repetition to build those clinical and professional skills that promote Day-One-Ready graduates.
Dr. Englar is the sole author of:
Englar, R.E. (Scheduled for Release In October 2019) Common Clinical Presentations in Dogs and Cats. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Englar, R.E. (2019) Writing Skills for Veterinarians. Sheffield, UK: 5m Publishing.
Englar, R.E. (2017) Performing the Small Animal Physical Examination. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
When she is not teaching or brainstorming new approaches to learning, she is a competitive ballroom dancer and artist.
