Mini-Module Teaching Template

Teach pain science and clinical reasoning in 10 minutes or less.

_______________________________________________

🔹 Purpose: To help you create and deliver high-impact educational moments for clinicians—whether in a staff huddle, online course, or peer mentorship session.

_______________________________________________

🔹 Why This Matters: Pain science isn’t just what we know—it’s how we share it. But most clinicians don’t have time for another lecture. This tool gives you a fast, flexible framework to shift thinking in real-time. One clear idea, one sticky metaphor, one real story—that’s how culture starts to change.

_______________________________________________

🌀 Structure: The 5-Part Mini-Module (10–12 min)

🗣️ 1. The Core Message (1 min)

What’s the one truth you want them to walk away with?

Examples:

▫️ “Pain is a protective output, not a damage detector.”

▫️ “The story you tell shapes the pain experience.”

▫️ “Safety is a treatment strategy, not a side effect.”

🗣️ 2. The Sticky Metaphor (2 min)

Use a metaphor that makes the message land.

Examples:

▫️ Alarm system that’s too sensitive

▫️ Overprotective dog

▫️ Volume knob stuck on high

▫️ The body as a memory bank

Tip: Ask the group: “Does that image make sense to you?”

🗣️ 3. Case Vignette (3–4 min)

Ground the concept in a relatable clinical story.

▫️ “A 35-year-old runner presents with recurring hip pain…”

▫️ “A post-op knee replacement patient is terrified to move…”

📌 Include:

🔍 Patient beliefs

🔍 How pain showed up

🔍 What reframe or movement changed things

🗣️ 4. Practice Bridge (2 min)

Make it actionable today.

▫️ “How could you use this metaphor in clinic tomorrow?”

▫️ “What’s one phrase you could swap out for a more helpful one?”

▫️ “How would you modify this patient’s home program to reinforce safety?”

🗣️ 5. Reflect + Reframe (2 min)

Invite discussion or journal-style prompt.

▫️ “Where might your language be reinforcing fear unintentionally?”

▫️ “What’s one story you used today that landed—or didn’t?”

▫️ “If pain is a process, what are we actually treating?”

_______________________________________________

✅ Formats You Can Use:

🟠 PDF printouts

🟠 1-slide visual summary

🟠 Voice note / video recording

🟠 Live 10-min teaching moment at the start of a team meeting

_______________________________________________

🧠 Final Insight

You don’t need a PowerPoint to teach powerfully. You just need one idea that sticks, one story that resonates, and one invitation to think differently. When shared with intention, even ten minutes can plant a seed that transforms how someone sees pain—and how they treat it.

This resource is part of The Wondering Clinician Toolkit. It’s not medical advice—just a tool to support learning, reflection, and healing. Always consult your clinician when needed.