Patient Communication & Empathic Engagement
Description
This session is designed for health professionals seeking to strengthen empathy, therapeutic communication and patient-centred care within clinical environments.
The challenge
Clinical expertise alone is not enough to build trust, reduce patient anxiety and support effective healthcare outcomes. Health professionals are increasingly required to communicate clearly, compassionately and confidently in emotionally complex situations. Common challenges include:
• Communicating complex clinical information clearly and sensitively
• Building therapeutic relationships under time pressure
• Maintaining empathy during emotionally difficult interactions
• Supporting distressed, anxious or vulnerable patients effectively
• Balancing clinical efficiency with compassionate patient care
Our approach
Grounded in psychology, neuroscience and evidence-based communication science, this session focuses on practical frameworks that strengthen empathic engagement, patient trust and effective therapeutic communication in real-world healthcare settings.
What you’ll explore
• Deep listening and empathic communication frameworks
• Strategies for building trust and therapeutic relationships
• Communicating clearly and compassionately under pressure
• Patient-centred communication techniques for complex clinical conversations
• Emotional regulation and presence during difficult interactions
• Practical approaches to improving patient understanding and engagement
Who this is for
Health practitioners, nurses, allied health professionals and healthcare teams seeking to strengthen patient communication, empathy and therapeutic engagement.
This is a practical communication and patient capability-focused session.
CPD eligibility
Every Limestone Group health program is structured to support AHPRA CPD requirements, including evidence of identified learning needs, learning objectives and documented reflection. Programs are designed to strengthen the professional and psychological capabilities that shape effective healthcare practice, including communication, leadership, ethical decision-making and wellbeing.
A certificate of completion is provided for your CPD portfolio and AHPRA audit record.
Lineup
Suzanne (Sues) Tonks
Sues Tonks is the Managing Director of Limestone Group and one of Australia's most experienced practitioners at the intersection of psychology, executive leadership, and strategic communication. She is completing a Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology at Monash University as part of a double award programme incorporating the Masters of Educational and Developmental Psychology. She has completed all coursework, placements, and her thesis, with conferral pending publication of a submitted peer-reviewed journal article currently under review. She holds Provisional Psychologist registration with AHPRA. Sues also holds a Bachelor of Business and Commerce and a degree in Communication, and brings more than 20 years of senior practice across C-suite executive development, corporate strategy, government, not-for-profit organisations, creative agencies, and business owners. Her specialisations include issues management and public relations, and she has worked intimately with global brands and ambitious entrepreneurs at the highest level of decision-making. She is the developer of the AIMPI (AI Management Personality Inventory) and leads all Limestone Group programmes, coaching, and strategic intensives. Sues is a sought-after speaker and guest panelist on leadership, AI, psychology in professional practice, and the future of work.
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