Reply To: Expert Patients Programme Online

[Claire]

I did this course some years ago and became a tutor for them. I think that it is a good starting point to get you going and puts you in the right frame of mind to move forward with things. However, the course is scripted, the trainers literally have to say what is scripted for them to say. It also feels rushed and, in my opinion, covers too much in each session. I found this to be very limiting and did not allow for people to explore their ideas and feelings properly. I think it depends where you are on your “journey” with your condition. It will give you some good advice about pacing and relaxing, some ideas about communicating successfully with professionals, medication, dealing with emotions etc. All that said, anything that will help you to manage your condition better has to be good and I remember at the time I attended the course feeling that I didn’t really learn anything I didn’t know already but that it was very useful revision. It was also nice to meet other people who were in the same boat as me.