GOLD Lactation Conference News
Even if we knew everything there is to know about the anatomy, physiology, and mechanics of breastfeeding it would still not be enough to effectively help breastfeeding families. Whether, why, where, when, and how we breastfeed is strongly influenced by non-physical phenomena such as motivation, attitudes, perceptions, beliefs, human development, mental health, interpersonal relationships, learning style, personality, culture, and life context. Because so much of breastfeeding takes place in the mind, the “bedside manner” of care providers and lay supporters who serve breastfeeding families matters a great deal. Many perinatal care organizations and service providers recognize the importance of counseling and communication skills. For example, the International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners mandates that International Board Certified Lactation Consultants use appropriate counseling skills and techniques as part of providing competent care. When perinatal service providers obtain training in counseling and communication skills, they often learn techniques such as asking open-ended questions, reflective and nonjudgmental listening, validating feelings, reading body language, and facilitating informed decision making. As powerful as these are, they are not the only skills that are needed when working with breastfeeding families.
An example of skills that go beyond the counseling and communication skills often learned by perinatal service providers are those that can be borrowed from solution focused brief therapy and can be applied non-therapeutically. Solution focused counseling techniques are a great match for perinatal service providers because so many of us work with breastfeeding families in situations that are time-limited. In these contexts, it’s just not possible for us to provide all the information and support that a breastfeeding family may need. Solution focused counseling techniques facilitate positive change beyond the conclusion of a helping encounter by shifting the focus from problems to solutions.
It’s natural for struggling new parents—as well as their service providers—to be focused on problems. Problems get our attention by evoking strong, negative sensations (e.g., pain), cognitions (e.g., “My breastfeeding challenges mean that I’m a failure.”), and/or emotions (e.g., frustration, anxiety). Problems that persist may keep us awake at night. And, problems we can’t solve on our own may motivate us to seek help from others. So, it makes perfect sense that we tend to focus on problems. Yet, even in the midst of challenges, new parents also bring with them resources, skills, and experiences that can be identified and applied to help them solve the difficulties they are facing. Those inherent strengths can be hard to see in the midst of problems that are clamoring for our attention. Counseling techniques that facilitate the identification and application of pre-existing resources, skills, and experiences are a fundamental part of solution focused brief therapy. Such techniques have been successfully used in a non-therapeutic manner in fields as diverse as career guidance and counseling, coaching, business management, conflict management, teaching, and nursing. As a mental health care provider trained in solution focused brief therapy and an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant, I have found that solution focused counseling techniques can also be applied in a non-therapeutic manner by professional lactation specialists, lay breastfeeding supporters, and other perinatal care providers in their work with breastfeeding families.
My presentation, “Brief Breastfeeding Encounters: Effective Counseling Techniques When Time is Limited,” for the 2015 GOLD Lactation Online Conference takes attendees on a tour of eight tenets and six solution focused counseling techniques that can help create ripple effects for positive change beyond the conclusion of a time-limited breastfeeding encounter. But, this presentation isn’t just a lecture. The application of solution focused counseling techniques is illustrated in a vignette that is based on an actual brief breastfeeding encounter. Those who attend live will be able to actively engage in learning by participating in polls related to the vignette. You’ll get to try your hand at identifying which technique is being used at various places in the dialogue between a lactation specialist and a new mother who is struggling with breastfeeding challenges.
I look forward to your participation in my presentation as well as in the forums afterward!
Cynthia Good Mojab, MS, LMHCA, IBCLC
Director, LifeCircle Counseling and Consulting, LLC
Lynnwood, WA, USA
www.lifecirclecc.com
