Training and consultancy

Research has shown that patients and clients who receive psycho-social support as part of their rehabilitation are more likely to adjust positively to living with a disfigurement.

 

Changing Faces offers a range of training courses. These equip health professionals with knowledge and practical skills to identify patient and family needs, and to have the strategies, processes and resources to address them.

Study Day: The Psychological and Social Aspects of Disfigurement

How will an understanding of the psychology behind disfigurement positively influence your relationship with patients?

How can you answer your patients' questions about disfigurement more effectively?

How can you prepare your patients to deal with difficult social situations?

Changing Faces offers one-day courses to enable nurses, occupational therapists, physiotherapists, speech and language therapists, social workers and doctors from many specialties to:

  • understand how the Changing Faces' psycho-social model supports patients with disfigurements and their families
  • adapt these principles to their particular hospital / clinic setting
  • examine how assumption, beliefs, attitudes and language around disfigurement can influence communication
  • learn how to equip patients with a range of communication skills and coping strategies to handle difficult social situations.

The courses are open to a maximum of 16 participants.

Cost: £95 per person which includes lunch and refreshments. The fee also includes a comprehensive package of resources, training notes and reading list. (Discounts are available for students and charitable organisations. Please enquire for further information.)

Date: Tuesday 5th October 2010      Location: London

Date: Friday 19th November 2010      Location: University of Hertfordshire (Dermatology Specific)

Date: Tuesday 7th December 2010     Location: London

Date: Wednesday 16th March 2011      Location: London

For further information or to book a place on any course, email Gemma Borwick (gemmab@changingfaces.org.uk) or call 0845 4500 275

 

Study Day: Counselling clients who have disfigurements

A one-day interactive forum for experienced counsellors and psychologists wishing to enhance their knowledge and confidence to work with clients who have disfigurements.

  • explore the psychological and social aspects of disfigurement including issues of identity, altered appearance and loss
  • discuss ways of integrating Changing Faces' approach into your own therapeutic practice
  • share individual experiences of working with clients who have disfigurements to broaden your range of interventions.

The Masterclasses are open to a maximum of 20 participants.

Cost: £125 per person which includes lunch and refreshments. The fee also includes a comprehensive package of resources, training notes and reading list.

Date: TBC Location: London  

For further information or to book a place on any course, email Gemma Borwick (gemmab@changingfaces.org.uk) or call 0845 4500 275

 

Specialist Day: The Psychological and Social Aspects of Disfigurement (Tailored)

This course is designed to take place within your own hospital/clinic and specially tailored to meet your unit’s needs. The first part of the course will give participants an understanding of the psychological and social effects of disfigurement including:

  • the myths and misconceptions around disfigurement
  • identity - issues of grief, loss and bereavement
  • perceptions of 'severity'.

During the second part of the day, participants will have the opportunity to:

  • explore how personal beliefs about disfigurement may influence patient/professional communication
  • learn how to develop and maintain an empathic yet professional relationship with patients
  • understand the need for planning the timing of seeing a changed appearance for the first time
  • learn how to discuss appropriate coping strategies with patients as part of their care plan before discharge
  • understand the importance of assessing a patient's information needs
  • understand the importance of involving patients in the decision-making process around treatment
  • learn to check out how patients are coping after discharge and review coping strategies with them.

We also offer a Trainers' Module for participants intending to train other staff in the psycho-social approach developed by Changing Faces.

Each Specialist Day will be tailored to meet the particular needs of staff in different NHS units, clinics and hospitals around the UK.

We ask that the institution provides the venue, computer access and catering, and that participants be recruited by the host institution (maximum 30 participants).

Cost: £595 per day, plus Changing Faces' travel and accommodation expenses. This fee includes all course materials including a comprehensive package of resources, training notes and reading list.

For further information or to book a place on any course, email Gemma Borwick (gemmab@changingfaces.org.uk) or call 0845 4500 275