The Art of Patient Counseling
Healthcare is not only about diagnosis and treatment. It is also about helping patients navigate anxiety, confusion, fear, and uncertainty with empathy, clarity, and confidence.
On 13 August 2026, I had the privilege of facilitating “The Art of Patient Counseling” for the Patient Counselors of Ispahani Eye Institute & Hospital. The session was held at their Training Room and organized by BdJobs e-learning.
Patient Counseling Beyond Treatment
Patient counseling is an important part of patient-centered care. While structured counseling practices are well established in many healthcare systems, the concept is still evolving in Bangladesh.
It was inspiring to see that Ispahani Eye Institute & Hospital has a dedicated Patient Counseling Unit and places strong emphasis on the continuous learning and development of its counselors.
Effective patient counseling goes beyond providing information. It is about listening carefully, understanding concerns, showing empathy, building trust, and communicating information in a simple and patient-friendly way.
Connecting Experience with Empathy
During my career with Roche, particularly while working with critical-care and specialty products, I had opportunities to interact with and counsel patients and families facing challenging healthcare journeys.
This session gave me an opportunity to connect those experiences with my passion for communication, empathy, service mindset, and soft skills development.
One principle remains especially important to me: effective communication is not only about what we say—it is about what the patient understands and how the patient feels after the conversation.
Learning Through Practice
The session was designed to be highly interactive and participatory. Instead of relying only on lectures, we combined practical discussions, real-life situations, role plays, group activities, and quizzes.
The participants practiced essential patient counseling skills such as active listening, rapport building, identifying patient concerns, demonstrating empathy, and simplifying complex information.
The central message was simple:
Listen first. Understand the concern. Then counsel.
These skills can help transform an everyday healthcare interaction into a more positive and reassuring patient experience.
My sincere thanks to the Management and Training Department of Ispahani Eye Institute & Hospital for their trust and support, and to BdJobs e-learning for organizing the program.
This session marks the beginning of my journey with Ispahani Eye Institute & Hospital. I look forward to opportunities to contribute further to better patient experiences, stronger healthcare communication, continuous learning, and patient and community wellbeing.
Because sometimes, the right words at the right moment can be an important part of healing.