Dr. John Reiman walks Spinal CSF Leak Foundation executive director Andi Buchanan through four steps of assertive communication to learn about its importance for those living with spinal CSF leaks.

The four-step process Dr. Reiman shares involves a genuine expression of appreciation, articulation of feelings, explaining your needs clearly, and specifying a required course of action. It's not a method meant to guarantee that one’s needs are met, but rather an approach to expressing them in a meaningful manner that is able to be capably heard.  

• “Four Steps of Assertive Communication” document
• Episode transcript

Episode time codes:

00:00 Introduction and Warm-up

00:43 Welcome to Episode 4: Assertive Communication in Leakland

02:08 Understanding the Importance of Assertive Communication

04:22 Challenges of Assertive Communication in Leakland

06:42 Understanding Passive, Aggressive, and Assertive Communication

09:52 The Four-Step Process for Assertive Communication

19:14 Applying the Four-Step Process: A Personal Example

34:24 Applying the Four-Step Process: A Medical Scenario

47:52 Conclusion and Contact Information

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