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The art of patient counselling

Discovery questions, the complete recommendation, objections and ethics.

1. The aggressive, the know-it-all, the novice: behaviours, not labelsCounselling · 4 min · free
2. Seasonal allergic rhinitis: proposing a routine without pressureCounselling · 5 min
3. Allergy or cold: the questions that tell them apartCounselling · 5 min
4. “My tests are perfect, but I don't feel well”: what you doCounselling · 4 min
5. Requests about someone's drinking: discretion, honesty, the doctorAdvanced · 5 min
6. Anxious, rushed, elderly: adapt your style, not the safetyFoundations · 4 min
7. The architecture of a complete recommendationCounselling · 4 min
8. Active listening: rephrase without interpretingFoundations · 4 min
9. “Something for my stomach”: questions that separate bloating from constipationCounselling · 5 min
10. Budget in three tiers: core, complete, optionalCounselling · 4 min
11. Look for the cause, don't just soothe the symptomCounselling · 5 min
12. “Something for my liver” or “detox”: what to ask firstCounselling · 5 min
13. “Something for thrush”: what to ask before recommendingCounselling · 5 min
14. “Something for my prostate”: questions before any supplementCounselling · 5 min
15. Cough, burning urination, skin: their own safety questionsFoundations · 4 min
16. The four tiers of a recommendation: from core product to serious illnessCounselling · 5 min
17. “Something for sleep”: falling asleep, waking up or daytime stressCounselling · 5 min
18. Five requests, five histories: what lies behind the requestCounselling · 5 min
19. Cystitis or something else? The questions that decideCounselling · 5 min
20. Constipation: suggesting fibre when the patient only wants a laxative teaCounselling · 5 min
21. Add, but also remove: a supplement can't undo the plateFoundations · 4 min
22. The body loves routines: turning advice into a habitFoundations · 4 min
23. How to choose between two similar productsCounselling · 5 min
24. Recurrent cystitis: suggesting prevention without pressureCounselling · 5 min
25. An objection isn't a no: time, budget, disappointmentCounselling · 4 min
26. Atopic eczema: the patient who has tried “every cream”Counselling · 5 min
27. Discretion with intimate topics: intimate hygieneFoundations · 4 min
28. Hair loss and dandruff: what you ask firstCounselling · 5 min
29. Absolute claims vs credible messages: how you talk about effectsFoundations · 4 min
30. Red skin in a child: atopy, psoriasis, infection or scabies?Counselling · 5 min
31. Judgement: hypotheses, not diagnoses; prescribed treatment staysCounselling · 4 min
32. The conversation that starts with a viral video: the liposomal exampleCounselling · 5 min
33. Empathy, expertise, communication: the counsellor’s three skillsFoundations · 4 min
34. Drinkable vials and drops: when a liquid form is an advantageFoundations · 4 min
35. Gemmotherapy macerates and tinctures: how they differ and how to chooseFoundations · 4 min
36. Sore throat and cough: explaining what each part of the routine doesCounselling · 4 min
37. Haemorrhoids: suggesting fibre when the patient only wants a creamCounselling · 4 min
38. Haemorrhoids: the questions before the cream, and the red flagsCounselling · 5 min
39. “Something for immunity”: prevention, illness or recovery?Counselling · 5 min
40. Vitamin D and zinc alongside vitamin C: forms, doses, no pressureCounselling · 5 min
41. Language that builds trust: what to say insteadFoundations · 4 min
42. Emotional eating and the trap of overly strict restrictionCounselling · 4 min
43. “My joints hurt”: questions that choose between gel, supplement and doctorCounselling · 5 min
44. “Give me what my neighbour took”: three conditions for a useful supplementCounselling · 4 min
45. Out of sight, out of mind: the environment decides the snackFoundations · 4 min
46. Screen-tired eyes: artificial tears, breaks and what not to promiseCounselling · 5 min
47. The cancer patient at the counselling desk: support, not promisesAdvanced · 5 min
48. The sceptical patient and the patient who talks a lotCounselling · 4 min
49. Pinworms in children: talking to an embarrassed parentCounselling · 4 min
50. “Something for parasites”: the questions that change the adviceCounselling · 5 min
51. Small steps: one habit at a time, not everything on MondayFoundations · 4 min
52. The first 30 seconds of a consultationFoundations · 3 min
53. A serious product vs empty marketing: what you read on the labelCounselling · 5 min
54. The 7C protocol: history-taking in 60–120 secondsFoundations · 5 min
55. Herbal powder or capsules: how to choose the formFoundations · 4 min
56. Add-on recommendations: a piece with a role, not an extra productCounselling · 4 min
57. The follow-up plan and barriers to adherenceCounselling · 4 min
58. Bach flower remedies and salt lamps: how to talk honestlyFoundations · 4 min
59. The common cold: five questions before you recommendFoundations · 5 min
60. Motivation means having motives: the question that starts itCounselling · 4 min
61. Losing weight isn't the goal: health is the targetCounselling · 4 min
62. Teach-back: “Do you understand?” checks nothingFoundations · 3 min
63. The funnel technique: from open question to safety checkFoundations · 4 min
64. The hard part comes after the enthusiasm: prepare the patient in advanceCounselling · 4 min
65. “A cream for varicose veins”: the questions that find the need and the red flagsCounselling · 5 min
66. Varicose veins: proposing a venotonic without false promisesCounselling · 4 min
67. Capsaicin plasters and the collagen that “didn't work”: check the doseCounselling · 5 min
68. Closing the conversation: with or without a saleFoundations · 4 min
69. “Something for spots”: the questions that change the skincare routineCounselling · 5 min
70. “I saw it cheaper online”: compare the effective dose, not the boxCounselling · 4 min
71. “Berberine gets rid of diabetes”: correcting without losing the patientAdvanced · 5 min