Dialogue Seminar for Healthcare Professionals

“An aide bathes an elderly woman who lies in a nursing home bed. The woman seems alert but cannot speak. With great care the aide gives the woman a bath and shampoos her hair, talking softly, moving gently. Tasks complete, the aide sits for a few moments beside the woman’s bed, holding and stroking her hand. That is healing presence.” (From The Art of Being a Healing Presence by James E. Miller and Susan C. Cutshall)

“A choir director listens to a pianist share her story of how MS (multiple sclerosis) robbed her ability to play piano years ago, believing that she would never play again. Then, several years ago, her MS receded from her hands and now resides in her hip and forces her to limp when walking. She now plays the piano as if each time it’s her last. The director listens to her story, holds her hands and looks silently into her face as tears well up in her eyes. They stay silent for a few moments and then the choir director thanks the pianist for sharing her story. That is healing presence.” (From Pokorny Consulting)

Perhaps you have known someone like the aide or choir director. Perhaps you’ve had a similar experience or someone was present to you in this manner in your time of need. That’s what this seminar is about – how can we be present to one another so that these kinds of experiences can be encouraged and nurtured.

“Healing presence is the condition of being consciously and compassionately in the present moment with another or with others, believing in and affirming their potential for wholeness, wherever they are in life.” (From The Art of Being a Healing Presence by James E. Miller and Susan C. Cutshall)

You can be a healing presence:

• while performing a medical procedure,

• as you admit a patient,

• as you listen to a co-worker's struggle with cancer or in dealing with an elder parent,

• as you care for others’ physical, emotional, or spiritual needs, or

• while you’re working beside someone or simply enjoying another’s company.

In this seminar, I invite you to dialogue and learn about being a healing presence in your daily work. This seminar is primarily for people in the healthcare fields including hospitals, nursing homes, retirement communities, hospice, medical clinics, home health, nursing and medical students.

To contact Kevin to arrange for this seminar or for him to speak at your conference or classroom, call him at 515-205-5513 or at info@kpokorny.com.