The relational effect: relationality as the strongest predictor of treatment outcomes | Shepparton

Offered by the Hamilton Centre and funded by the Victorian Department of Health

Connections are essential in healthcare, and in AOD and Mental Health services they are central to both client outcomes and workforce wellbeing. In the context of integrated care, the most important connection we can form is the therapeutic relationship – with individuals, the team and the health service system itself.

Together, we’ll explore what relational practice looks like in integrated care and how it supports therapeutic relationships. We’ll also focus on intentional communication, using practical examples and techniques to support trust, respect and collaboration in everyday practice.

This workshop will examine the unique and essential therapeutic relationships built between healthcare workers, peers, family and carers, and how these relationships can influence engagement with services more broadly.

But what happens when it all goes wrong? While relational theory helps us understand how strong connections are formed, the reality in practice can be more complex. Miscommunication, misunderstanding and differing perspectives can happen. This workshop will unpack common causes of rupture and explore strategies and techniques to prevent or minimise their impact, as well as approaches to repairing relationships when rupture has occurred.

Join us to dive into the single most important element of great healthcare!

Learning objectives

• Explain the significance of relational practice in delivering integrated mental health and addiction care.
• Examine the impact of therapeutic relationships in the context of peer work, families and carers.
• Identify and navigate the challenges and opportunities of working relationally across teams, disciplines and service systems.
• Apply intentional communication and reflective practice skills to enhance relational safety and connection.
• Demonstrate strategies for repairing and strengthening therapeutic relationships after rupture.

There will be an opportunity to attend a reflective practice session following the workshop. The session will provide a space for workshop attendees to reflect on how they have applied the workshop learnings in practice, share experiences and challenges, and explore approaches they may take moving forward. The session will be facilitated by the workshop presenters. A Zoom link will be sent directly to workshop attendees.

Target audience: Victorian AOD and mental health workers.

Click here for more information and to register