A Remote Practice of Possibilities: Tips From Our Coaches
It has been over two months now since Qi Creative, like innumerable businesses across the province, shifted to working from home and conducting business remotely as we all do our part to help prevent the spread of coronavirus in our communities.
With some coaches already on parental leave, and others joining us for the first time, the past several weeks have been filled with significant changes for everyone.
Adaptability, an openness to change, and a sense of curious wonder remain ever-present to each of us as we create new ways to support our clients and honour the goals we have made no matter what challenges may arise throughout the year.
Emily
For Coach Emily, Speech-Language Pathologist, remote practice is not entirely new for her—with previous experience teaching English to children abroad, she made quick work of modifying a section of her home to become her Therapy Nook—a colourful, vibrant corner of activity to keep kids engaged on their visits with her.
“ I have been having a lot of success with video by reading online, interactive stories, playing simple games such as tic-tac-toe, simon says, blowing bubbles, coaching parents who have children who use AAC devices through play-based activities, using social stories by having the child read them to me, creating crafts with the clients to work on following multi-step directions, and much more! I am constantly creating and thinking about what activities or ideas will motivate and engage my clients.”
Jon Jon
Coach Jon Jon, with only two months left into the Young Master Club Taekwondo season, quickly adapted the formerly in-person Taekwondo classes to an online setting, broadcasting weekly videos complete with emailed handouts. He continues to serve a caseload of clients through individual and group video conferences with other Coaches.
Lisa
Coach Lisa also created a Therapy Nook of her own, complete with plants, board games, a light board that displays in readable format when on a mirrored videoconferencing camera, and occasionally visited by Moose, her fluffy white cat.
Deanna
Coach Deanna, Human Ecologist and Communications Director, works on a variety of projects and edits internally on Qi’s websites, invoicing, and interviewing incoming and outgoing clients over the phone.
Through integration tools such as Zapier and IFTTT, she has consulted with coaches reaching out one-on-one who are looking to streamline their communications and practice flows through automation processes.
Michael
Coach Michael, Technical Director, was supremely adaptable with enhanced cleaning practices across Qi Creative HQ, until the office had to close as part of increased provincial efforts to curtail community transmission.
Michael is consulted where needed to help both coaches, as well as clients learn how to use any new tech equipment or software to continue to create awesome wherever they are.
Coach Michael also follows physical distancing outdoors by enjoying the springtime nature during off-peak hours.
Trent
Coach Trent, Physical Therapist, set up an awesome activity where the family set up bikes in their house with training wheels and inside shoes, to turn the bikes into stationary bikes.
Then, Trent sent the family on a bike race video as the family put it on their TV, and the kids had bike races in the house!
Hedbanz is a quick and easy game where you guess what image you’re wearing on your head! Image by HeyThatsMike
Robyn and Connor
Coach Robyn and Coach Connor, when having internet connectivity issues where both could not connect to a video call with a client, quickly overcame this tricky situation by having Connor FaceTime with Robyn on her phone, while Robyn used FaceTime with the family on her laptop.
By doing this, Connor could be held up to the camera on Robyn’s phone, so he could be seen and heard. Together, they completed a tele-visit and a fun game of Hedbanz.
Devin
Coach Devin, Speech-Language Pathologist, has continued collaborating with coworkers to keep the energy flowing.
“During telepractice I'm doing a lot of different tactics.”
“I'm having meetings with parents and teaching them some communication strategies, working on goal-setting for the week, and then following up to see how the week has treated them.”
“I'm doing video sessions with some clients and their parents, working on social interaction and communication as we draw pictures together, play bingo, do puppet shows, and other modified versions of what I'd do in the home. I've even had great success working with one client coaching his mom on how to model on his AAC device over video!”
“For their sessions I do a combination of direct modelling with a device on my end, and coaching mom through their interactions to make requests and direct her. For example, when he throws his toy we successfully got him to request "Go get it" on his device through repeated practice and modelling).”
Michal-Joan (MJ)
Coach MJ, Speech-Language Pathologist, initially planned to offer More Than Words as a group program at Qi HeadQuarters, but adapted the program for videoconferencing. She has completed several video visits, including 2 pre-program consultations.
Luis
Coach Luis, Occupational Therapist, facilitated his first online group session of HeartMath in April. He also started a new online version of Compassionate Listening Introductory Training, which was previously an in-person weekend event moved online.
Kelly
Coach Kelly, Speech-Language Pathologist, has a few tricks up her sleeve:
A Battat Shape Sorter House comes with different coloured shapes and keys to lock and unlock and slip through openings and doors.
“I hid different dinosaurs in a Battat Shape Sorter house, and the client used their communication device to tell me which door to open using the shape or colour on each door.
We practiced words like "open," "look," "out" and took each dinosaur out of the cage. I played a similar game with another client where our dinosaurs escaped the zoo, and he had to give me directions to look for and find the dinosaurs hiding around my office.”
“Another activity we did was the "show and share" mystery game, where we each brought an item and practiced asking and answering questions to guess the items. We had siblings and coaches share items for show and share.”
A Remote Practice is Possible
We hope you found these brief snapshots interesting.
If you’re having trouble moving your practice online, whether you’re a similar service provider or completely different, here are some things we’ve found that work for us:
Discuss with clients about remote practice, and what formats they may be willing to work with/willing to learn. (If YOU are interested in being our client, welcome! We truly endeavor to be flexible with what your living situation at home is like at this time.)
Create a visually engaging area of your living space where you can keep your client engaged, and have your own tools, assessments, toys and props nearby off-camera for easy reach. This may also help you be able to feel ‘at work’ in a specially created working space in your own home.
Know that success and progress will look different, compared to an in-person visit. This does not mean that progress is not there, just that things may be measured differently. Take the time to discuss with your clients what success looks like for them too!
Have an openness to learn new and unfamiliar things, for example, videoconferencing software and apps. If you are having trouble, look to online tutorials and FAQs, or your trusty Technical Director or IT guy!
Modulate your communication style depending on the format. What this means is, for example, when embarking on a video session you may need to exaggerate your facial expressions, or speak more slowly to ensure each word is heard across a spotty internet connection. We lose a lot of non-verbals when we communicate digitally.
Schedule regular dates to check in. This could be done weekly with everyone, or individually as needed with specific coworkers. Reaching out and staying socially connected is key not just for company operations, but for everyone to stay energized and involved.
Also of note: Not all online meetings have to be about business! The Qi Creative team has also rejuvenated with group video-calls for general socializing and catching up.
Practice and hone your tech skills. This is the most important! It’s entirely possible when we one day return to a more public way of living, that some families may prefer distance-only services. Consider learning how to use video apps, streaming, and your use of digital resources as your own professional development.
We hope you take this time not to think of a remote practice as a temporary measure, but as a dynamic new way of work that may continue to serve you for years to come.
It is a great time to learn and experience new things, and to enjoy the flexibility that working from home can bring, if you are new to working from home.
Families are adjusting to working from home probably just as much as Coaches are.
Navigating uncertain waters as a team has twofold benefits in learning how to do a new mode of work in itself, as well as remaining a continuing source of support as parents and caregivers adjust to new ways of being at home with their kids.
Thanks for reading with us, and remember, Create YouR Awesome whenever and wherever (at home) you go!
“Life doesn’t get easier or more forgiving, we get stronger and more resilient.”