Host: Jason Craig, Knowledge Lead, PABC Guest: Patrick Dessaulles, Physiotherapist & PABC Professional Development / Member Supports

In this episode of New Directions, Jason sits down with physiotherapist and PABC team member Patrick Dessaulles to explore how Motivational Interviewing (MI) can deepen therapeutic relationships, support behaviour change, and reduce burnout for clinicians. Patrick explains the “spirit” of MI, why ambivalence is normal, and how a few core communication skills can integrate into every day physio practice.

In this episode, they discuss:

• What motivational interviewing is and how it grew from addictions work into broader health care
• The “spirit” of MI: compassion, acceptance, partnership, and evocation
• How MI strengthens therapeutic alliance and fits squarely within person-centred care
• Ambivalence: why it’s normal (“I know exercise helps… but I never do it”) and how MI helps people move from stuck to ready to act
• Concrete physio examples: chronic low back pain, post-surgical rehab, and the classic “fix me” client
• Core MI communication skills (OARS):
  • Open-ended questions
  • Affirmations
  • Reflections
  • Summaries
• How MI can:
  • Increase engagement, autonomy, adherence, and satisfaction for clients
  • Decrease “fix-me” pressure and help buffer clinician burnout
• Common misconceptions, including the idea that MI is a 5-minute “technique” rather than a way of being throughout the whole interaction

Resources & next steps for PABC members

• Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers (MINT) – foundational MI info and demo videos
  • https://motivationalinterviewing.org/
• Center for Collaboration, Motivation and Innovation- Free Introductory MI course
  • https://centrecmi.ca/resources/
• PABC Motivational Interviewing Mentorship Hours
  • Monthly, free for members via the BC Physio app
  • Lightly guided space to practice skills, ask questions, and apply MI to real cases
• Foundations of Motivational Interviewing Course (Spring)
  • A virtual, multi-session PABC course (5 × 4-hour webinars + 1:1 practice)
  • Free to PABC members — details and registration to come
• Connect with Patrick:
  • 📧 patrick@bcphysio.org
  • 📧 membersupport@bcphysio.org
• BC Physio Advocate Community Platform & app – for members wanting to stay connected and engaged in advocacy and professional development
  • https://www.bc.physio/feed

Host: Patrick Dessaulles, Professional Development Lead, PABC Guest: Andrea Burton, CEO, PABC

In this episode of New Directions, Patrick sits down with PABC CEO Andrea Burton to look at what’s worrying—and what’s exciting in the physiotherapy landscape in BC over the next six months.

• Fees & funding pressures
  • Wide variation in clinic fees and the impact on insurer expectations.
  • Stagnant rates since before COVID and what that means for clinic sustainability.
  • The long-frozen MSP rate of $23/visit and how it affects patient access.
• Regulation & contracts
  • Ongoing uncertainty with the Health Professions and Occupations Act (HPOA).
  • Concerns about public practice contracts under HSA and how small physio’s voting power is.
  • WorkSafeBC service agreement renegotiation and lessons learned from the ICBC contract fight.
• Scope, imaging & system change
  • PABC’s push to add diagnostic imaging to physio scope and why it’s a game changer for access and wait times.
  • Upcoming position statement and webinar for members.
• Strengthening the profession & PABC’s role
  • Building more collegiality across public/private and between clinics.
  • PABC as the only organized physiotherapy voice under a multi-profession college.
  • How stories, member engagement, and working groups fuel real advocacy wins.

It’s been a landmark year for the Physiotherapy Association of BC! In this special conversation, CEO Andrea Burton and Director of Organizational Development Sean Cranbury reflect on advocacy wins that are shaping the future of physiotherapy.

From successfully pushing ICBC to revise unfair contract terms, to securing updates to our scope of practice for the first time in 15 years, to leading the charge on long-overdue MSP reforms—PABC has proven the power of persistence and collective voice.

With provisional licensing returning, WorkSafe negotiations underway, and momentum building around the new Health Professions and Occupations Act, the message is clear: physiotherapy is rising as a key voice in BC healthcare.

Backed by a bold 2024–2026 Strategic Plan focused on advocacy, collaboration, and cultural safety, PABC is moving into 2026 with strength, unity, and vision.

🎧 Tune in and be part of the movement advancing physiotherapy across BC!

In this episode, Patrick Dessaulles sits down with renowned physical therapist Erik Meira to explore the complexity of knee rehabilitation in high-performance athletes. Drawing on nearly three decades of experience, Erik discusses the importance of mastering foundational principles—like force production, isolated strength testing, and the physics of deceleration—to optimize recovery and performance.

Together they explore:

• Why the knee is a uniquely complex joint for rehab

• Common pitfalls in return-to-sport protocols

• Practical insights for integrating force, time, and load into rehab

• What to expect from Erik's upcoming Knee Rehab course with PABC this November

Resources & Links: 🔗 Learn more and register for Erik’s course: https://bcphysio.org/product/complex-understanding-for-simple-solutions-knee-2/ 🔗 Explore Erik's work and blog: https://thesciencept.com

Connect with Erik:

• Instagram: @erikmeira

• LinkedIn: Erik Meira on LinkedIn

Bridging Research and Practice: Advanced Rehab for Hip and Knee Arthroplasty

In this episode of New Directions, host Patrick Desaulles sits down with physiotherapists Melanie Soer and Susan Ting to discuss 3 studies and their personal experiential perspectives on rehabilitation following total hip and knee arthroplasty (joint replacement).

Together, they explore:

• Key findings from three important research articles on hip and knee replacement rehab.

• Common challenges and limitations in traditional post-op rehab approaches.

• How a whole-body, neuromuscular approach — blending Pilates and physiotherapy principles — can help improve long-term functional outcomes.

• How the same principles and techniques can be used for pre-operative care to prepare patients for surgery and improve post-op outcomes — not just recovery afterward.

Hip & Knee Arthroplasty Rehab: An Advanced Skills Workshop

• Dates: October 4–5, 2025

• Instructors: Susan Ting & Melanie Soer

• What you’ll learn:

• Latest surgical insights from a guest surgeon

• Practical lab work on neuromuscular retraining, postural control, gait analysis, and full kinetic chain rehab

• Hands-on strategies you can apply in clinic immediately — for post-op AND pre-op patients

Register for the course

Links Mentioned:

For full text versions of the below articles please reach out to PABC at info@bcphysio.org

Bennett D, Humphreys L, O'Brien S, Kelly C, Orr JF, Beverland DE. Gait kinematics of age-stratified hip replacement patients--a large scale, long-term follow-up study. Gait Posture. 2008 Aug;28(2):194-200. doi: 10.1016/j.gaitpost.2007.11.010. Epub 2008 Feb 19. PMID: 18242996.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18242996/

Bhave A, Mont M, Tennis S, Nickey M, Starr R, Etienne G. Functional problems and treatment solutions after total hip and knee joint arthroplasty. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2005;87 Suppl 2:9-21. doi: 10.2106/JBJS.E.00628. PMID: 16326719.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16326719/

Rahman J, Tang Q, Monda M, Miles J, McCarthy I. Gait assessment as a functional outcome measure in total knee arthroplasty: a cross-sectional study. BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2015 Mar 22;16:66. doi: 10.1186/s12891-015-0525-2. PMID: 25886558; PMCID: PMC4374376.

https://bmcmusculoskeletdisord.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12891-015-0525-2

Before During and After hip and knee Joint replacement surgery

https://vch.eduhealth.ca/media/vch/FB/FB.130.B393.pdf

VCH Exercise Guide for Knee Replacement Surgery

https://vch.eduhealth.ca/media/vch/FB/FB.873.Ex.372.pdf

In this episode of “Digital Direction,” host Sean Cranbury (Director of Organizational Development, PABC) is joined by Andrea Burton, CEO of the Physiotherapy Association of British Columbia. Together, they dive into the major advocacy efforts and organizational updates shaping physiotherapy in BC.

Key topics covered:

• ICBC Negotiations: Andrea discusses the challenging negotiations with ICBC over the new physiotherapy program guide and service terms. Through persistent advocacy, PABC secured important contract changes—especially around audit access and definitions of substandard service. Andrea highlights the importance of physiotherapists’ involvement and transparency in the process.
• WorkSafeBC Contract: The episode touches on evolving negotiations with WorkSafeBC, including business aspects of contracts and professional responsibility when treating patients who may not recover fully.
• Provisional Licenses & Rural Recruitment: Andrea updates listeners on the potential return of provisional licenses, which could help recruit and retain physiotherapists—especially in rural and remote communities like Haida Gwaii, where waitlists are years long.
• College Amalgamation & HPOA: They discuss the ongoing process of college amalgamation and the Health Professions and Occupations Act (HPOA), including the complexities of reviewing incomplete bylaws and the gradual enactment of legislation that will impact the profession.
• MSP Advocacy: Andrea outlines efforts to increase the basic MSP rate and eligibility thresholds, including presentations to the Select Standing Committee on Finance and urging members to share patient stories to support the cause.
• CRA Audits: The conversation covers the risks clinics face around contractor versus employee classifications, recent CRA audits, and the importance of understanding the legal landscape for physiotherapy business models.
• New PABC App: The team introduces the new BC Online Community app, designed to provide members with real-time updates, support, and a transparent, collaborative space—addressing the need for better community engagement and open dialogue within the profession.

Throughout the episode, Andrea emphasizes the importance of strong, transparent advocacy and leadership to elevate physiotherapy’s role in BC’s health system, urging physiotherapists to stay involved and proactive.

In this episode of New Directions, we speak with Tania Dick, Indigenous Knowledge Keeper for the Physiotherapy Association of BC.

Tania shares her journey as a nurse, activist, and leader, offering powerful insights into the importance of cultural safety and humility in healthcare.

She discusses the collaborative creation of new standards addressing Indigenous-specific racism, the healing power of storytelling, and her mother’s influence as a Red Power activist.

Tania highlights the need for Indigenous representation in health professions and calls on all practitioners to approach reconciliation with courage, curiosity, and long-term commitment.

This is a conversation grounded in truth, resilience, and hope.

Interested in learning about the use of virtual reality to enhance your care for patients living with persistent pain? Listen to this podcast featuring Neil Pearson for a discussion with PT Knowledge Brokers Jason Craig and Alison Hoens. The conversation will focus on clinical experiences with virtual reality-based pain science education and a review of current evidence of VR for both pain education and impacting pain outcomes.