Essential Skills 2 Conference: Dublin

Reflections on the Essential Skills for Physiotherapist: Journey — From London (2024) to Dublin (2025)

Over the past few months I’ve had the privilege of being involved in the Essential Skills 1 & 2 conferences — first in London, then most recently in Dublin. These events brought together some of the most curious, passionate and forward-thinking professionals in physiotherapy and allied health. The atmosphere was electric: real ideas, collaboration, and a genuine sense of community.

These conferences buit on the momentum of the recently published book Essential Skills for Physiotherapists: A Personal and Professional Development Framework (ISBN 978-0443111280) — a text aimed at developing intrapersonal and interpersonal skills in our profession. uk.elsevierhealth.com+1

I’m proud to have contributed Chapter 10, titled “Mental Fitness – Resilience and Facing Challenges”, which underlines one of my core passions: the mental side of performance, wellbeing, and clinical excellence. The list of authors are a collection of professionals that I can be privileged to be associated with.

Mental Fitness: The Hidden Skill That Powers It All

In writing Chapter 10, my aim was to challenge the traditional idea of what makes a great physiotherapist. Yes – clinical reasoning, technical knowledge and manual skills matter. But so too does the ability to stay grounded, self-aware, set boundaries, mentally agile in the face of pressure, uncertainty and human complexity.

The chapter covers a wide range of topics focused on the domains of health/fitness: Physical, Emotional, Mental, Social & Spiritual.

At both conferences, I was inspired to see so many clinicians opening up about real issues: burnout, self-doubt, imposter syndrome, the balancing act of clinical demands and personal life. These aren’t weaknesses – they’re realities. And how we respond to them defines our long-term success and wellbeing.

My chapter emphasises that mental fitness isn’t a one-off topic. It’s a practice. It lives in daily habits, reflection, community and support — much like the other skills covered in the book.

Check it out if you haven't already bought your copy!

The Power of Shared Curiosity

One of the standout moments for me was seeing how curiosity drives everything. Rooms full of professionals — from students to advanced practitioners to sports medicine professionals — asking questions, engaging in debate, re-imagining what modern physiotherapy/healthcare can be.

That willingness to learn, connect and evolve is what makes this profession so exciting right now: less about hierarchy, more about shared growth; less about ego, more about empathy and impact.

The conference in Dublin on the 28th October was in the prestigious Irish Museum for Modern Art, lived up to the hype. It was outstanding, leaving me pinching myself to check it was real.

Focused around the conference topics:

• Communication

• Curiosity

• Collaboration

  
  

• Connection

  
  

I delivered a workshop with Paul Stevens, FCP North West Lead, Pure Physiotherapy on 'Successes, Failure, and setbacks' We worked on the angle to help the esteemed attendees connect, network and break down any barriers early doors with introductions, shared setbacks, and defining what success is for us.

I shared a story about an older lady, Doris, who I had seen years previously who had osteoarthritis in her knee. Within the session, we described the exercises which resembled dancing and she recounted with a youthful glow/smile how she loved dancing with her husband when they were younger. The outcome: meaningful rehab exercise focused on dancing with her husband.

The gleefully laughed/smiled and rejoiced at dancing with her husband again. At the same time, I had a a colleague sitting in the session with me who just started working as Head of Recruitment for Connect Health. He thanked me for the shadowing opportunity……..

Years later, he opened up telling me I had a profound impact on his time at Connect health. It transpired that after the consultation with Doris, he was so moved he cried in his car for an hour.

Fast forward: years later, he was working for an organisation called HALO Trust who are a humanitarian organisation focused on removing landmines from war torn countries. The success: he reached out to me at Pro Health Physio, to deliver the occupational health/virtual physio delivery for the whole organisation.

Success is not one single interaction, it is the small regular kind acts that seem meaningless at the time. The intention to expect nothing in return. The intangible successful moments occur, where you have a deep emotional connection…this ripple effect cant be strategically mastered.

They happen when you act with authenticity and love for what you do. Success for me is making a difference, and when that happens the difference is made upon you.

Looking Ahead

The Essential Skills journey is far from over. If anything, it’s just beginning. The conversations sparked in London and Dublin show how much appetite there is for deeper professional connection, reflective practice, and meaningful personal development within physiotherapy.

I’m proud to have been part of this movement so far — and even more excited about where it’s heading.

If you haven’t yet explored Essential Skills for Physiotherapists, I’d highly recommend it — not just because of my chapter, but because it reflects a profession that’s maturing, diversifying and daring to think differently. And if you are a clinician, or a healthcare-business owner (as I am), it offers practical, real-world growth beyond technical skill.

Here’s to curiosity, collaboration and the continued pursuit of excellence — both clinically and mentally.

— Darren Finnegan

Physiotherapist | Speaker | Writer | Advocate for Mental Fitness in Healthcare