Mindset Monday: The Wounded Healer: In Medical Practice
You can be a great medical care provider, wounded healer, AND still help your patients. In this episode I identify 3 ways practitioners struggle and how to overcome these challenges.
Can you practice medicine as a wounded healer archetype?
As children we may have had to read the room before we walked thru it because we were physically or sexually abused by family. We might have learned to know how someone feels by how they moved thru the room or even opened a door.
We might recognize a parent or sibling on the edge of some sort of meltdown and found that if we do or say something special we could not only get “love”, but also change the potential outcome of that mood.
We develop “extra-sensory awareness” to survive our situation which later is VERY useful when working as a healer.
We develop “extra-sensory awareness” to survive our situation which later is VERY useful when working as a healer. I often just “know” what points to use. Especially if I palpate and touch someone. I often know when someone feels worse or better than they are letting on because i can feel it in my body. I can feel the second someone shifts when the needles are in because I can feel it in my body. This doesn’t just happen for me in clinic. This happens everywhere. But I use it in clinic. Because it is a gift. If I can keep my panic monster at bay and the imposter syndrome monster quiet, treating patients just flows for me.
But it is a double edged sword. We have to look for ways to allow those wounds, use our powers to help others heal, all while honoring our own ongoing process of not being perfect yet being perfectly lovable because of it.
Honor your own ongoing process of not being perfect, yet being perfectly lovable because of it.
We also need to understand that many humans who were also wounded do not become healers. They become people who wound. Because they were disempowered they crave control and power and often gain that by wounding others. As healers we need to understand that WE are uniquely gifted in helping those wounded wounders similarly heal their traumas and thereby potentially healing others instead of hurting them.
WE are uniquely gifted in helping those wounded wounders similarly heal their traumas and thereby potentially healing others instead of hurting them.
In my experience of working with other practitioners, and being a wounded healer myself i have identified :
Three ways Wounded healers go wrong in practice.
Overcompensation
New practitioners are especially vulnerable to this pattern because they often have a high level of imposter syndrome which is completely normal but our reaction because of our past trauma is not commensurate with the challenge. We tend to over give and try too hard. Or we become frozen and don’t perform the things we know will bring more patients and create more success.
2. Feelings of Low Self Worth
Why would anyone come see me?
I can’t charge that much!
I don’t put them on a treatment plan because I want to earn their trust first.(Letting them decide you are good enough.) I didn’t ask them if they wanted to reschedule.
I didn’t ask them for a google review even though they were SO happy about getting better.
I didn’t ask them if they had friends who might like my services.
I can’t start a practice, I don’t know enough.
You tend to get Stuck in perfection. It Feels like you are failing a patient even tho they are getting better.
AND….. I need to learn more before I can……
3.Have a great desire to help but have poor boundaries.
You give too much.
Share too much.
Care more than the patient does.
Burns out early on.
Thinks about the patient on personal time.
Studies for hours about one case.
Runs over appointment time to do one more thing.
Doesn’t collect no show fees.
Doesn’t have cancellation policy.
If any of this resonates with you I just want you to know that the majority of healers whom I have met have this archetype. It is very common so lean into it. You can learn how to do this.
I also want you to know that you can do both. You can help people heal while having wounds that you are still healing and some that you have healed.
You can help people heal while having wounds that you are still healing and some that you have healed.
Having this archetype, being this person means you likely are a kind, compassionate, empathetic, sensitive, person and have a special talent when you quiet your mind and all of your anxieties to know exactly what the patient needs. So, Know that this is going to be a process. Just like being in school for forever. Welcome to life school, again. I know it might be surprising and really catch you off guard, so listen in for some suggestions to becoming more resilient and developing the skills to do both at once.
Listen in for some suggestions to becoming more resilient and developing the skills to do both at once.
resources
Growing A New Acupuncture Practice
While I cannot crawl through the curious mind of my next guest, I can see how she hiked through the natural world of her own inner landscape to gain a clear expression of what her practice of Chinese Medicine would become.
plant seed, grow practice, be you.
Have you thought about how you want to present this medicine to the world? I mean, YOU are the artist of your own life, right? Do you even know the medium of your best communications? Do you write, perform, sink your toes in the mud, ask challenging questions that other people would never utter, or do you sing, do yoga, meditate, or cook? What is the best expression of you that isn’t actually you?
While I cannot crawl through the curious mind of my next guest, I can see how she hiked through the natural world of her own inner landscape to gain a clear expression of what her practice of Chinese Medicine would become. You definitely want to check it out. Her website truly is just an extension of her personality and her newsletters are full of hidden puzzles where curiosity is rewarded with amazing little adventures. Seriously, if you want an example of a newsletter done fun, go sign up! Listen in and enjoy the journey!
today’s guest
REGAN GOODRICH MSAOM, LAC., LMT., OWNDER OF SEED ACUPUNCTURE, PORTLAND OR.
Hello! My name is Regan Goodrich. I'm an acupuncturist and massage therapist by trade and a true believer in the human spirit. My hope is to inspire active participation in daily existence, to shift the mundane to something sacred. One million stars had to explode in the exact order in which they did for us to be here and that means you were made for this.
Seed was born from the idea that you already have everything you need to be your own hero. Imagine a giant sequoia tree swaying in the breeze. It all started as a tiny seed, finally taking root under optimal conditions to become its true, majestic form. My mission is to create an experience where you can explore and occupy your body in order to nurture your own unique seed, helping you to root down + sprout into your authenticity, health and well-being. This medicine is slow, steady and celebrates the cycles of life; expansion + contraction.
I use a wide variety of modalities including acupuncture, electro acupuncture, bodywork, herbs, food choices, and movement suggestion to nudge your qi into a dynamic balance. I'm excited to meet you and can't wait to see where our journey will take us.
FIND HER HERE:
you’ll learn
Why Regan left a contractor position to work for herself.
Regan explains her patient flow and what she likes about it.
Let’s talk expansion at year 3. From 3 comes the 10,000 things.
It is SO important to have someone hold your balloon strings while you get going. Having support is key.
Look for the opportunities and the extensions of help offered along the way.
Starting with a completely blank slate after school? Maybe go to work for someone and learn the business.
Hang in there, this is a long game!
resources
TOOLS OF REGAN’S TRADE
Applied Channel Theory (book) *
CM&F (malpractice insurance)
Llasa Oms (supplies)
Golden Cabinet in Portland (Herbs)
Evergreen Herbs (Chen Family)
*"This is an affiliate link and I earn from qualifying purchases. It does not cost you anything to use the link, this is just how I am able to support this podcast and continue to create helpful content.
call to action
Have you listened to the Mindset Monday episode on creating a “Mission Statement?” Do it!
From Graduation to Start-Up Of An Herbal Pharmacy
In this episode I chat with Travis Kern Dipl.OM, LAc,. one of the founders of Root and Branch in Portland, Oregon. This is the story of how he and his business partner Travis Cunningham Dipl OM, LAc., braved the system and launched a brick and mortar Herbal Pharmacy that serves practitioners all over the country (US), in filling our patient’s herbal prescriptions.
ready, set, launch!
In this episode I chat with Travis Kern Dipl.OM, LAc,. one of the founders of Root and Branch in Portland, Oregon. This is the story of how he and his business partner Travis Cunningham Dipl OM, LAc., braved the system and launched a brick and mortar Herbal Pharmacy that serves practitioners all over the country (US), in filling our patient’s herbal prescriptions.
today’s guest
TRAVIS KERN LAC. CO-FOUNDER OF ROOT AND BRANCH IN PORTLAND OREGON
Growing up in New Orleans as the son of a dietitian and in a very social household, Travis K. has always had a keen interest in the components of good living, namely food, drink, and community. He trained as a professional chef and had his first career in catering and restaurants. Travis uses his culinary training in the creation of herbal medicines, relying on a deep understanding of how plants and minerals change with heat and manipulation. Now with his training in Chinese medicine, he is able to channel that Southern passion for the good life into the research and design of life-changing medicines for people in need.
FIND HIM HERE:
www.rootandbranchpharmacy.com and if you are in Portland, stop by the shop and say hi. We always love to meet practitioners and talk to them about what we do and how we can help practitioners do what they do better.
QUESTIONS? 971-288-5939 (They are super helpful with herby questions! I call them often.)
Instagram @rootandbranchpdx
you’ll learn
Travis explains the multitude of offerings Root and Branch has and how they can help new practitioners fill scripts for their patients.
The Genesis of Root and Branch is laid out in detail.
Do you know what the three most valuable business principles are? Listen in and find out.
How to win friends and influence the surrounding businesses with community service.
The most valuable way to get new patients is still the friendly BBQ. (Well, maybe not right now….2020.)
Do you know what the MOST important character asset is that will keep your doors open? This is BIG!
Yes, you can become your own bookkeeper, and you probably should! We talk about how.
Travis shares the inside scoop with how the Travis’s were able to open shop, and how they managed that risk.
Lastly you, yes you, ARE ENOUGH! So do the thing!
special offer for acusprouts!
Get $25 in store credit when you set up a new practitioner account at Root and Branch. Here is your special link!(This is an affiliate link. There is no cost to you, but I may earn a small commission. I only affiliate with businesses that I truly believe in.)
resources
Bookkeeping youtube videos Travis watched to learn how to set up the books.
I mention the book I am reading. See the link below.*
call to action
Call someone and tell them you love them. That’s all. Life is too short to not tell people how awesome they are!
*Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. There is no cost to you, but I may earn a small commission. This is a great way to show that you appreciate the podcast , time and information,.
Getting Yourself to "Right" Before You Launch Your Career
Cailin and I felt alone that first year. You are not alone. The first couple years out of school can be really rough. Getting yourself right and in alignment is a major part of starting your practice. Work on this first.
finding your presence
According to Chinese Medicine 101, “What we observe on the outside gives us an indication as to what is occurring on the inside.” It is such an integral and basic tenet of our medicine. So, why do we forget about how this may reflect in other parts of our life?
Imagine your practice as a reflection of all of your own inner workings. The current message of our time and of how to proceed is this:
Find you, trust yourself, have faith, work from your heart and ask for the next step to get you where you want to go. Your practice will be a reflection of how clear you are about yourself. Get clear on the inside. The rest will work itself out.
I can’t tell you how much time I have spent reveling this tenet in relationship to our current world situation. Weaving it’s tendrils in the degradation of our Planet. A Pandemic. Worldwide unrest. Is there actually a diagnosis for what we are experiencing? How can we help? How can we ground ourselves and find the opportunities, or pearls in the midst of this chaos?
Bigger yet, how do we cultivate an inner clarity that will reflect in our new practice, change our current practice and help heal the greater macrocosm?
After listening to this podcast about 6 times in the editing process I am humbled by how simple yet profound it is.
Dr. Cailin O’Hara shines in this podcast. She inspires me. I think you will feel the same.
today’s guest
DR. CAILIN O’HARA
Dr. Cailin O'Hara, DACM, LAc, Dipl OM, is a nationally board certified doctor of Chinese medicine, acupuncturist, Chinese herbalist and intuitive coach. She has a private practice in Phoenix, AZ, where she helps her patients overcome anxiety, past trauma and the effects of chronic stress to restore mind-body harmony and self-worth. In her coaching practice, she works deeply with her clients around both transformative, personal healing and soul-centered entrepreneurship. You can find her at :
anchor.fm/soullevelwhole (podcast)
you’ll learn
Cailin and I felt alone that first year. You are not alone. The first couple years out of school can be really rough. Not for everyone of course, but if you feel alone shoot me an email at hello@acusprout.com. I also look forward to bringing you more of Cailin in the AcuSprout office hours. (Coming soon!)
Getting yourself right and in alignment is a major part of starting your practice. Work on this first.
Coaching can move you along and amplify your efforts. It can be worth the investment!
Cailin has a niche practice with diversified ways of being of service. She has a podcast, instagram videos, a youtube channel, coaching for emotional healing and entrepreneurs, and a Chinese Medicine practice. There’s more. Go take a look!
We do actually talk briefly about her online presence and some tools she uses.
resources
Canva is an amazing resource that we both use for creating newsletters, graphics, instagram stories, logos, etc. It is free unless you decide that you want to keep your quick goto files in there and customize everything for branding, which I recommend. It’s really awesome.
Cailin mentions JaneApp for scheduling and keeping her schedule. You can hear how much she loves it, loves it, loves it.
Book Yourself Solid by Michael Port is a must read.