Mind Matters: Communication Differences and Neurodiversity in Medical Training (PSK22JUL26)

This session explores how communication styles can differ between individuals and how these differences may influence day-to-day interactions in medical training. We will consider how factors such as personality, culture and neurodiversity can shape communication preferences and behaviours.

The session will focus on recognising differences in communication style, reducing misunderstandings and adapting communication where appropriate. Practical strategies will be introduced to support clearer, more effective and more inclusive communication in clinical and training environments.

The session is interactive and reflective in style, using a combination of brief teaching, guided reflection and discussion. It is suitable for all doctors in training and does not require prior knowledge.

Booking courses

Please ensure that you check your availability before booking a place and add the booking to your diary / calendar. Please ensure that you also book the relevant study leave in advance with your employer.

Please refrain from booking multiple instances of the same course or course type to ensure that places are available to your colleagues. If a course is full, please add yourself to the waiting list and you will receive a notification if a place becomes available.

Joining Instructions

This is a virtual course, the joining instructions for the virtual meeting will be added to the documents section (above) before the course. Please ensure that you are able to access this before the course so that you are ready to join on the day.

Booking cancellation

Participants must make every effort to attend courses they have booked. If your availability changes after booking, please cancel your place through Maxcourse as soon as possible. This will release the place for colleagues on the waiting list.

If you need to cancel within 1 week of the course or the course has started and you are not able to attend, please email england.lsfdcourses.yh@nhs.net to give your apologies.

This course is only available to General Practice and Higher Specialty trainees, and SAS Doctors within Yorkshire and the Humber.

Mandatory: Dentist, or Doctor, or Public Health Professional

To support doctors in training to understand communication style differences and develop practical strategies to improve communication and working relationships.

This course will: 

• Introduce the concept of communication styles and how they may vary between individuals.
• Explore how communication differences can impact teamwork, feedback and workplace interactions. 
• Examine factors that may influence communication style, including personality, culture and neurodiversity. 
• Provide opportunities for guided reflection on individual communication patterns (optional). 
• Introduce practical strategies to support clear, effective and inclusive communication. 
• Explore how to adapt communication approaches in different contexts.

After this course, delegates will be able to: 

• Understand the concept of communication styles and their relevance in medical training.
• Recognise differences in communication styles in themselves and others. 
• Understand how communication differences can impact teamwork, feedback and working relationships. 
• Reflect on their own communication patterns and identify opportunities for adaptation (if applicable). 
• Apply practical strategies to improve clarity, understanding and effectiveness in communication.