It is not a secret that physicians are expected to be emotionally strong and any signal of mental distress is often viewed as a professional weakness. Unfortunately, it is this kind of erroneous thinking that often prevents physicians from seeking a source for emotional sanctuary. In fact, if left unchecked, these harmful feelings build over time; get lumped into the catch-all of professional burnout, and with the unspoken assumption that with enough gumption, these outside irritants can be corralled – or worse yet, self-controlled. Sound familiar?
On the flip side, physicians who have an outlet for expressing fear, anxiety, disappointment, and exhaustion are more likely to handle difficult situations in a healthier and more resilient manner. For this reason, understanding the therapeutic benefits of counseling will be the focus of our next Wellness Wednesdays session.
Set for Wednesday, August 16, at 12:15 p.m., free registration is open for participants to hear how preventive and crisis counseling is an asset that helps stressed physicians reconnect with their core identity. This session is the seventh in an eleven-part webinar series that is dedicated to teaching healthy techniques and practices that will help family physicians become more focused on their own personal wellness.
“Many times people believe counseling is for when they are in crisis, but in reality, therapy can be more functional as the “soothing balm” for your brain,” said Nelson Heise, clinical director at the Ohio Physicians Health Program (OPHP) and the facilitator of the Academy’s Wellness Wednesdays program. “This presentation will focus on what counseling is, how it works, and ways to maximize its benefits. We will also discuss the stigma around counseling and ways to challenge it,” continued Mr. Heise.
Wellness Wednesdays is a structured, monthly webinar series that focuses on enhancing professional and personal wellness through the joy of medicine. The series is facilitated by a licensed professional clinical counselor from the OPHP, offered free to physician members, and takes place the third Wednesday of each month over the typical lunch hour (12:15 – 1 p.m.) Participants will start each session with a brief overview of the discussion topic and then led through a practical exercise that helps the participant learn through self-exploration and personal awareness. Participants will have the opportunity to share their own insight at the end of the 45-minute program and make connections with their peers who are also interested in wellness and professional satisfaction.
Archives of the previously recorded sessions and resources can be accessed on the OAFP website.
If you have questions about the Wellness Wednesdays program, contact Deputy Executive Vice President Kate Mahler, CAE, or call 800.742.7327.