Case Taking- The Art of Connection, Communication & Conversation

Niki Taylor

Post Graduate Course Director-The Irish School of Homeopathy

I have had the immense pleasure of working closely with Dr. Algundgi Shekhar since attending a lecture of his in Mumbai in 2016. Dr Shekhar is a vibrant, energetic and inspiring teacher who has an outstanding ability to bring both his teaching and case taking to life in the classroom. The vivid imagery of his teaching is always supported by the simplicity and purity of his case taking skill. This book is filled with practical advice and tools to elevate and improve your own understanding and experience of case taking.

Highly recommended.

Joanna Witkowska

Homeopath from Switzerland

Case taking is an art without which our knowledge of the Materia medica, however vast, cannot spread its wings. Dr Algundgi’s teaching is invaluable in acquiring the technique of the homeopathic conversation. For those of us who practice the sensation method, the aim is to allow the patient to express or manifest his « other song » and Dr Algundgi’s case taking method allows us to create the ideal conditions for that, and ultimately, for the healing to take place.

He teaches us all the little details which make a great difference. The tone and volume of voice, the questions which are mere nudges for the patient to continue his « song », the silences, the speed and the rhythm of the conversation, the gaze of the homeopath are among those elements which allow the patient to thread seamlessly from fact and emotion through delusion to sensation and even beyond. Witnessing Dr. Algundgi’s case taking is like watching a dance where the homeopath, whose steps are light, timely and almost imperceptible, leads the patient to spontaneously express the energy which inhabits him and which is thus exposed to the patient’s own awareness and to our best understanding.

Dr. Algundgi walks us through his cases step by step shedding light on various aspects of the process, helping us to understand the fine line between expression of the delusion and of the sensation state in a patient and how to address each phase most appropriately. Beyond case taking, I also follow with great interest his Materia medica lectures which give me a deeper and clearer understanding of remedies.

I found in Dr. Algundgi a great teacher, with a kind and dedicated attitude to both his students and patients, a mentor and a true healer at heart.

Dr. Vipul R. Shastri

Dean Faculty of Homoeopathy- Veer Narmad South Gujarat University, Surat

Principal-Vidhyadeep Homoeopathic Medical College and research Centre, Anita, Kim

Congratulations to Dr Shekhar Algundgi for Introducing an extraordinary revelation in the world of homeopathy “Case taking-The Art of Connection, Communication & Conversation" Dive into the pages of this masterpiece as we journey through the intricate tapestry of the art of conversation, woven with the threads of science & compassion.

Experience the magic of language as it transcends its conventional boundaries, becoming the key to unlock the doorways of the soul. Discover how every sentence, every gesture, & every pause are intricately connected, guiding us toward the essence of true healing. This book is not just a compilation of words; it's a profound exploration of the symphony that unfolds in the sacred space of the consulting room.

Which unravel the nuances of non-verbal cues, synchronicity, & the unspoken tales that lie beneath the surface. The words on these pages inspire all of us to traverse the layers of consciousness & perception, unveiling the intricate patterns of dis-ease and harmony.

Immerse yourself in the stories of individuals who have embarked on this journey of self-discovery through language. From the noun to the verb, from the conscious to the subconscious, witness the evolution of health. This book is a testament to the power of understanding, connection, & empathy – qualities that form the core of the healing journey.

This Book is more than just a book; it's a guide, a companion, & a revelation. Let its words resonate with your passion for healing, & allow its wisdom to deepen your practice. This book is a beacon of light for all those who seek to master the art of conversation & embark on a journey of healing & transformation. Stay tuned for the new era of homeopathic understanding.

Liliana Miucci, BSc, HD, ND

https://www.lmh-homeopathy.com/

It is with great honor that I accepted to be one of the first readers of this exceptional book.

I have been following Dr. Shekhar's teachings since 2013 – in fact, I found them so engrossing that I began organizing his seminars myself, in Italy and Switzerland in 2015. Over the years, I have sought to bring Shekhar's revolutionary method to my European colleagues.

The most wonderful thing about his method and his teachings is that they are presented in such a fashion that followers can REMEMBER the principles taught even years down the road – the expressions used, the examples given, the case clips shown are engraved in follower’s minds! This book is as good as his live teachings – readers will remember the skills and principles taught for their astute, concise and lively presentation.

A must read for all those interested in the Sensation in Homeopathy.

Dr. Priyamvadha Subramanian, BHMS, P.G.F.H.P.C

This book is an apt beginning to put down in condensed format the seemingly effortless and easy style with which Dr. Shekhar receives his cases in a conversation style. That there is a well-tested, refined and systematic process behind this effortless style of case receiving was never in any doubt. As we have seen first-hand in the cases which Dr. Shekhar would present at the FHPC course conducted by the other song academy, (where he is a popular teacher).

The book has been put together from a series of lectures and conversations had (over the last few years), during the very popular retreat, ‘Gurukul’, conducted by Dr. Shekhar’s Swara Homeo Clinic. The Gurukul retreat is an off-site, in Sylvan surroundings, a back-to-the-basics training program, where the entire focus is on honing case-receiving skills, in a module called as Guided Case-Taking. The entire experience is one of slowing down from the hectic pace of the city, mending our connections with nature, meditating, sharing and learning.

Coming to the book. This book is for fledgling homeopaths looking to hone their case-receiving skills and who want to learn to connect and communicate effectively with their patients. It is also for seasoned homeopaths who would like a systematic approach to case-receiving; an elegant, more streamlined approach to effective communication, to cover those gray areas that each one of us are striving to improve in. The case-receiving tips detailed in this book would especially be useful for retaking our ‘difficult’ cases. When we read relevant sections of this book, we will see that it is the homeopath who has missed picking up the cues and clues; that the relevant information from the patient was always there. It is not an outcome-oriented process, it is about learning to trust the journey and matching pace with the patient.

So, it has something for every discerning homeopath – whether you are beginning your journey or looking to refine your approach. It is also a ready reckoner of sorts, of what questions to ask and what not to ask while sitting in front of the patient. Most importantly, it is about a patient-led process. The entire case-receiving aspect, as laid out in the book is about letting the patient take the lead of the conversation and matching pace with them.Of course, it also gives valuable tips on how to bring a patient led conversation back on track, were it to go off the track. For fledgling homeopaths who can get overwhelmed either due to lack of useful information or when faced with a deluge of information from the patient, it gives certain tested tips on how to step back and look at the whole picture.

The case-receiving process is a journey with the patient into his deepest disturbance, and this book lays out the pre-requisite qualities that a homeopath must have/gone before he can begin this journey. It is all about effective listening and being present in the moment. He must engage all his senses and be acutely observant, while remaining unprejudiced. He must orient himself with the grammar of the patient – where he is coming from. And match the tense of his questions to the tense that the information is given in. Personally, this author found it to be an astute tip.

The intention is always to understand the patient during this shared journey. It is all about communication and picking up the verbal and non-verbal nuances and being aware of the change in pace that the patient has set. The homeopath has to match his own pace with that of the patient, neither slowing him down, nor rushing him to a conclusion. The moment the pace changes and doesn’t match the patient’s pace, the connection and by extension, the communication with the patient is lost.

At the same time, the homeopath has to be aware of where he is anchoring his case, how to proceed with what information comes his way and how to ask the shortest questions, that help the conversation moved forward, but with brevity and awareness, so that the patient’s thought process is not jarred or derailed. He also has to be aware of what is the purpose of each of his questions. The questions are to be unobtrusive, but also very precise, keeping pace with the narration of the patient. Also being aware of the possibilities which emerge in the answers given. These aspects are detailed in Chapter nine of the book – which details the ‘P – formula’, which is a precise tool consisting of eight P’s.

Each of the ‘P’s’ act as mile markers for the homeopath, which he can then read and recognize to navigate where they are at (in the journey) and determine when and what detours, (if any), that need to be taken. In short, the ‘P formula’ is an inbuilt GPS for the homeopath, which helps him come down or zoom down into the core disturbance. Where to persist and where to change track.

Personally, speaking for this author, the tips that were really useful were - being brief in asking questions, and not assuming anything, as well as keeping the patient anchored in the abstract. The tools to achieve this are explained in a very simple and effective way in the book. Knowing when to pause asking questions and when to persist have also been elucidated very well in the book.

There are also suggestions of situations where the homeopath may need to take a break in the conversation with the patient, recap and re-enter the conversation with more focus. These are valuable nuggets in time management.Chapter 10 gives an idea of the various ‘W’s’ to ensure that the case is complete.

Chapter11 details a template for a whole case. This is very thoughtfully written. There are six whole cases given at the end of the book – the reader will be able to now understand and recall the various tools and strategies laid out in the previous chapters while reading these cases. Every strand of the fabric of the case has been explored.

This book just doesn’t illuminate communication with the patient, but also goes one step further and talks about the importance of communication in society as a general fact. It talks about the need for communication between various age groups outside the family construct – and between various members of the family. This, I think is a social commentary – a wry observation of the sign of the times that we are in, and how we are fast losing the tools for meaningful communication, in this age of short forms and WhatsApp lingo. Dr. Shekhar has always been an observer of life around him, and it will come as no surprise to the reader to read this meaningful section, on how to communicate.

Kudos to the many colleagues who have been instrumental in helping put this book together. It is a labor of love which will benefit many, each time we return to read sections of the book, and we will be returning many times for the simple wisdom between its pages. This author has had the opportunity to learn from Dr. Shekhar Algundgi, in the classroom, and is now honored to write a review for his first book.