Introduction: the development of therapeutic patient education (TPE) has incited healthcare professionals to introduce an educational dimension into their practices. Objective: since few works on the “effective” practices of TPE trainers exist, this exploratory research aims at providing a perspective on what can characterize their practices in a teaching situation. Method: Making use of works on observing teaching practices in educational sciences, several sessions of TPE were observed, recorded, and analyzed by focusing on the forms and the contents of the verbal interactions of the trainers. Results: the results underline intra and interpersonal variations on the guidance model of the trainers. Discussion: these results are to be linked with the design of sessions, professional training, and the public received.  Conclusion: observing effective practices, complemented with the analysis of declared practices, is an analytical tool capable of informing the educational stance of the trainer, with the aim of furthering knowledge and professionalization.