Why a blog??? The need

Reason for writing ...the need

In the realm of academia, students learn to formulate thought. In the realm of a professional clinician, clinicians formulate thought to solve a problem...or should.

Thinking is a good thing. I have been a mentor/clinician to doctoral level interns from all around the country and one consistency no matter what school the interns come from is that they come taught to think; to think critically, to think abstract, to think to learn. What is necessary and what separates a novice clinician from a fully functioning independent clinician is learning to think clinically, practically, and to solve problems, answer questions, and find cause/effect; then communicate that to a human being sitting in front of you who is in pain, vulnerable, and living in the unknown.

I made the mistake out of school that I was done learning, finally graduated, and could now take my expert knowledge and put it to use. To be completely open I knew I had more to learn, but because I knew I had more to learn I knew more??? I was so ignorant, arrogant, and insecure. I had tons of tools from a respected and accredited program, but I had no idea how to use them. I performed internships/clinicals, but I still had a clinical instructor to look over my treatment and ultimately be responsible for the patients. I was like a carpenter with a fancy tool belt having all the personal protective gear, read all the books/manuals but now I had to use them! What a scary several weeks, months, and years. I learned to treat patients just like I had learned to walk, by falling within safe parameters. The reason this blog is important and necessary to the field of clinical practitioners and new graduates is because we as clinicians have an amazing opportunity to connect with patients as people and help teach/coach people in taking back their own lives. We as clinicians spend a lot of time with our patients and have such great opportunities to show people “the way”. I hope this resource helps you navigate through your career as a clinician.