Copers and Noncopers

We treat people every day who had an unfortunate circumstance that brought them to a physical therapist.  Sometimes it's an injury; sometimes it's an auto accident; sometimes it's a genetic condition; sometimes it's the result of a disease process; sometimes it's degenerative changes.  Each and every person treated by a physical therapist has had some life changing incident that doesn't allow for normal function - due to pain, weakness, structural change, balance deficits.  Each person has an individual reaction to the current situation and the reaction can impact not just the results of physical therapy services, but also life.  We know this, there is plenty of research on copers and noncopers, on active involvement in treatment versus passive involvement, on secondary gain issues, on fear and fear avoidance factors. 

I would love to bottle up what Adam Bender has.  In the words of an 8 year old, ..." a physical challenge can be overcome when you have the desire and you believe in yourself."  You can see Adam in action here.  (Sorry, this video couldn't be embedded.) 

Are noncopers stuck being noncopers?  If we could bottle up Adam's coping skills and sprinkle some coping magic onto those noncopers, I wonder if their outlook would change?  I know two phrases I wish were in every patient's vocabulary that are sometimes missing, "I can" and "I will." 

Selena