Throughout my life I’ve had the opportunity of visiting a large number of professional offices, both Audiologist and Dispenser, as well as scores of government offices. My primary reason for being in each location was either to visit my peers or conduct my assignments for Army Counter-Intelligence (no jokes please).
At first I paid very little attention to the way the different offices were laid out. After awhile though it dawned on me (I’m a slow learner) that each office was an extension of its owner’s personality or business style. Military and civilian officers always sat behind a desk; the higher the position, the larger the desk to show who was in charge or simply to intimidate the visitor. Professionals trained in clinics frequently had their counseling / fitting rooms set up so that they faced their client across a modest sized desk. I believe this, at least partly, can be attributed to their role models, an extension of the attitude, “I am the professional and I’ll tell you what needs to be done.” It can, intentionally or not, place the client in an unequal position and can be a rather sterile environment. However, this type of layout is by no means limited to clinically trained professionals. It is a common layout seen in all manner of professional or business offices as well as many Dispenser offices.
A different type of layout and one that I prefer is casual, a little like a living room. Instead of a wall full of plaques or diplomas, pleasant pictures and potted plants are visible mixed in with one or two diplomas. During the counseling part of the client encounter (initial contact, case history, explanation of test results, and decision to be fit) the client and significant other are seated in comfortable arm chairs separated from the specialist by only a small low table. The table, although it does create a separation between counselor and counseled, is necessary so that various papers/files can be placed where everyone can see them. If desired, large flat screen monitors can be strategically placed at various locations and connected wirelessly to the professional’s computer and testing/fitting systems so that everyone can see important graphic information. This also conveys the message, “This is a technologically up to date office.”
A client can be seated beside a desk for the actual fitting so again, there is no physical barrier between the parties. This lack of barriers, in my opinion creates an intimacy, a bonding that helps the client accept what he/she is being told will happen and what each must do to create a successful outcome.
Since I am without a degree in psychology I can only say that what worked well for me, and the Dispensers and Audiologists who worked in my offices might be something you may want to try. But if you think it sounds like a good idea, make sure that you are the type of person who can work in this less formal setting.
