{"id":252527,"date":"2026-07-15T12:48:59","date_gmt":"2026-07-15T11:48:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ftww.org.uk\/?page_id=252527"},"modified":"2026-09-19T15:45:45","modified_gmt":"2026-09-19T14:45:45","slug":"13-techniques-to-help-handle-health-appointments","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/ftww.org.uk\/cy\/advocacy-and-support\/self-advocacy-toolkit\/13-techniques-to-help-handle-health-appointments\/","title":{"rendered":"13 techniques to help handle health conversations"},"content":{"rendered":"\n[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”Babbysitters” _builder_version=”4.24.0″ background_color=”gcid-c95dc54a-2f3f-4a8b-8981-6a040a1dc024″ custom_margin=”|||” custom_padding=”60px||86px|||” da_disable_devices=”off|off|off” global_colors_info=”{%22gcid-c95dc54a-2f3f-4a8b-8981-6a040a1dc024%22:%91%22background_color%22%93}” da_is_popup=”off” da_exit_intent=”off” da_has_close=”on” da_alt_close=”off” da_dark_close=”off” da_not_modal=”on” da_is_singular=”off” da_with_loader=”off” da_has_shadow=”on”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.27.7″ _module_preset=”default” width=”86%” width_tablet=”86%” width_phone=”80%” width_last_edited=”on|desktop” module_alignment=”center” custom_padding=”||0px|||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.24.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_post_title meta=”off” featured_image=”off” text_color=”light” _builder_version=”4.24.0″ _module_preset=”default” title_text_color=”gcid-7b46fb6c-c514-4554-bd32-6a4fa27b792a” title_font_size=”63px” custom_margin=”||12px|||” hover_enabled=”0″ title_font_size_tablet=”63px” title_font_size_phone=”43px” title_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” global_colors_info=”{%22gcid-7b46fb6c-c514-4554-bd32-6a4fa27b792a%22:%91%22title_text_color%22%93}” sticky_enabled=”0″][\/et_pb_post_title][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.7″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”DM Sans||||||||” text_font_size=”23px” text_line_height=”1.3em” header_4_font_size=”26px” background_layout=”dark” custom_margin=”-1px|||||” custom_padding=”|0px|1px||false|false” text_font_size_tablet=”20px” text_font_size_phone=”20px” text_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.24.0″ _module_preset=”default” da_disable_devices=”off|off|off” global_colors_info=”{}” da_is_popup=”off” da_exit_intent=”off” da_has_close=”on” da_alt_close=”off” da_dark_close=”off” da_not_modal=”on” da_is_singular=”off” da_with_loader=”off” da_has_shadow=”on”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.27.7″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”1px|||||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.7″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.7″ _module_preset=”default” header_2_font_size=”32px” width=”100%” custom_margin=”||12px|||” header_2_font_size_phone=”28px” global_colors_info=”{}”]
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This page is section 5 of 5 of <\/span>FTWW\u2019s <\/span>My Voice Counts<\/em> <\/span>Self-Advocacy Toolkit.<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Practise the techniques below to improve your self-advocacy skills:<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.7″ _module_preset=”default” header_2_font_size=”32px” custom_padding=”22px|||||” global_colors_info=”{}”]

1. Be assertive rather than aggressive<\/h2>\n

Women in particular often worry that expressing their wishes will see them labelled as bossy or aggressive.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s important to understand that this is often based in gender stereotypes and prejudices which aren\u2019t true or helpful. We have just as much right to have our healthcare needs met as anyone. Sometimes this means we have to question attitudes which see our experiences and voices dismissed or silenced. However, we can do this in a way which is clear and confident without getting being confrontational and causing ourselves and others to be angry or upset.<\/p>\n

Being assertive can help you to get your point across in healthcare conversations and appointments. It can enable you to come out of them feeling more confident that you\u2019ve said what you needed to say, and achieved the outcomes you wanted to achieve.<\/p>\n

There are key communication strategies that can help you be more confident and assertive when discussing your health needs which we\u2019ve described below. Some of these techniques might be new and unfamiliar to you, so you might wish to try them out and practise with a friend, family member, or someone else you trust!<\/p>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.7″ _module_preset=”default” header_2_font_size=”32px” custom_padding=”22px|||||” global_colors_info=”{}”]

2. Listen to yourself first<\/h2>\n

Your inner noise \u2013 anxieties, distrust, previous frustrations – can swamp what you want to say and the goals you have for the appointment. Accept that it\u2019s OK to feel like this. Take a breath and before engaging, pause.<\/p>\n

Top Tip: <\/b>To help master your breathing, you can watch FTWW\u2019s \u2018Box-Breathing\u2019 exercise:<\/strong><\/p>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_blurb title=”Top tip” use_icon=”on” font_icon=”\ue060||divi||400″ icon_color=”#D83845″ icon_placement=”left” content_max_width=”595px” _builder_version=”4.27.7″ _module_preset=”default” header_font=”|600|||||||” header_font_size=”20px” background_color=”gcid-7b46fb6c-c514-4554-bd32-6a4fa27b792a” max_width=”56%” max_width_tablet=”80%” max_width_phone=”100%” max_width_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_padding=”16px|36px|16px|15px|true|false” link_option_url_new_window=”on” border_radii=”on|10px|10px|10px|10px” global_colors_info=”{%22gcid-7b46fb6c-c514-4554-bd32-6a4fa27b792a%22:%91%22background_color%22%93}”]

To help master your breathing, you can watch FTWW\u2019s \u2018Box-Breathing\u2019 exercise:<\/strong><\/p>\n