ABC NEWS REPORT

On the 22 Dec 08, Dr David Freeman of the psychiatry institute of King’s College London was reported in a news item (ABC news on the web) that 25% of the population in his study reported regular paranoid thoughts. The definition of paranoia was an exaggerated fear that others are trying to harm you; some fears being extreme and some much milder.

The same day I received an email regarding conflict between two practices where one veterinarian advised a client to report another practice to the appropriate authority. It was reported there was ongoing ill feeling between the practices and there appears to be no evidence for this advice. Giving clients this type of advice has no positive outcomes as it promotes ongoing conflict, antagonism, anger, resentment and mistrust. Appropriate behaviour would have been to say nothing to the client and communicate directly with the other veterinarian creating harmony and goodwill between practices and collegiality within the profession (how hard would that have been).

Conflict arises both between practices and within practices when an individual believes (often falsely) that their self value is being depleted, or a belief (often of long standing), or there is a fear one of these is happening. When we perceive one of these we react (re in Latin means again) automatically with behaviour that we have learnt and believe produced the outcome we wanted in the past. Instead of reacting we can respond (derived from responsibility and the Latin spondiere meaning to pledge) so we react we are not responsible. To respond we must use new behaviour to achieve the best possible outcome. This is choice.

The aim of counselling is to provide the choice in our life to respond by becoming aware of past behaviour when reacting and to learn and experience the personal reward in acquiring new behavioural techniques that give rise to positive outcomes.

The example quoted is just one many. Conflict in practice has resulted in veterinary nurses reporting veterinarians to authorities, nurses in conflict with other nurses and staff, without considering conflict between associate veterinarians and principals as well as conflict between practice principals.  The result being basically practice sabotage reducing practice profitability and more importantly job satisfaction.