Consultation Skills: A Student Guide to Clinical Communication and Behaviour Change

“This will be a very useful book for all health care trainees, helping them to deliver excellent patient-centred care. [This book] has a clear and engaging style, lots of brilliant activities, tips and examples, with up to date theories and evidence throughout.”
Jo Hart, Professor of Health Professional Education & Health Psychologist, Head of the Division of Medical Education, University of Manchester, UK.

“This engaging and accessible guide to consultation skills draws on a scientific understanding of human behaviour to share expertise with and support those providing healthcare consultations.”
Susan Michie, Professor of Health Psychology and Director of the Centre for Behaviour Change, University College London.

Consultation Skills blends the theories of behaviour change with practical clinical communication and motivational interviewing skills, enabling students to understand the theoretical foundations and know how to apply them in real-world healthcare scenarios.

Bringing together clinical communication skills and behaviour change in one source, this book  eliminates the need for students to refer to multiple sources, thus streamlining their learning process and providing a holistic understanding of these topics.

Consultation Skills will also remain a useful reference guide for students after qualification, as they embark in their professional careers.

Key features of this book include:


Integrates clinical communication skills and behaviour change theory
Incorporates the most up-to-date theories and techniques
Includes engaging pedagogical features (case studies, reflective activities and knowledge application activities) to enhance student learning
Comprehensive content in one source
Post-qualification utility

Drawing on the most up-to-date theories and techniques, this book equips students with the latest theoretical foundations and practical skills to become the healthcare professionals of the future.

Jacqueline F. Lavallée is a lecturer at the University of Manchester, UK, and a Health Psychologist registered with the Health and Care Professions Council, where she works with individuals to support them in making behaviour changes to improve their health and wellbeing. She has always had an interest in health behaviours and the role of psychology in health and illness. 

Sarah C. Shepherd is a senior lecturer at the University of Manchester, UK, where she leads the clinical communication component of the MBChB. She has a background in health psychology and has been working in the field of clinical communication in medical education for 10 years.