According to the 2024 Medscape Physician Burnout and Depression Report, an alarming 83% of physicians are experiencing burnout. In response to this distressing data, Marvin is dedicating efforts to target mental well-being for physicians and healthcare workers by highlighting eight therapeutic strategies. If any of these eight strategies strike a chord with you, consider scheduling time with Marvin. Enhancing your mental health benefits you and positively impacts your loved ones, colleagues, and the patients you care for.
Eight Ways Therapy Can Help Physicians and Healthcare Professionals:
1) Cognitive Restructuring
Even the most resilient medical professionals with great tenacity may sometimes feel stuck, frustrated, worn out, or even hopeless. Therapy, specifically cognitive restructuring, can be incredibly beneficial. Cognitive restructuring is a therapy technique that involves identifying negative thoughts and replacing them with more positive, realistic ones. This approach can be pivotal in overcoming mental hurdles that impede success in various aspects of life, such as career advancement, building relationships, or personal health goals. Therapy provides the tools to shift thought patterns constructively, enabling physicians and healthcare professionals to manage work-related stress, achieve personal well-being, and improve their lives.
2) Compassion Fatigue
Compassion fatigue can be common among doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals and affects your patients and those around you--both at work and home. This can lead to feelings of detachment and mood swings and create inordinate amounts of stress in your life. This unrelenting stress can lead to mental exhaustion and even put you at a higher risk of severe mental health concerns. Marvin therapists offer strategies to help you cope and recover from this specific kind of stress and burnout. They're there to guide you in recognizing early warning signs and equip you with the tools necessary to feel and function better, ensuring you keep sight of the joy and happiness you can achieve in your work and personal life.
3) Learn to Slow Down / Make Self-Care a Priority
In the fast-paced world of healthcare, finding time to slow down and focus on personal well-being can seem nearly impossible. Therapy offers a valuable space for individuals to gain new perspectives and learn effective coping strategies amidst their busy lives. Expert Marvin therapists can guide you in establishing routines emphasizing the importance of sleep hygiene, relaxation techniques for both work and home and learning functional time management techniques, which are crucial for maintaining mental and physical health. This approach goes beyond stress management; it's about creating a sense of peace and balance in your work and personal life, helping you to thrive in the demanding world of healthcare.
4) Navigate Stress & Anxiety
Taking care of patients while dealing with your day-to-day responsibilities may sometimes feel burdensome. Therapy can show you a variety of ways to handle stress and anxiety, allowing you to navigate any negative feelings you have by building healthier habits and lightening your load. Even minor changes can bring more peace and functionality to your work and home life.
5) Learn to Set Boundaries / Get help with Creating New Goals
Are you thinking about making a change in your life? Maybe you’re considering taking on a new job or relationship. Therapy can help you prepare for the journey. Therapists can assist you in setting boundaries, creating goals, and planning for the path ahead. They can aid you in developing time management skills and self-care practices, which is essential for those facing long or irregular hours.
6) Learn How to be a Better Communicator
Having hard conversations in a medical setting is challenging, but what about the rest of our communication with our families and those around us? Whether you’re talking to a patient, a co-worker, or a family member, your communication skills can be improved with therapy. Marvin therapists help physicians and healthcare professionals refine their communication styles to effectively express thoughts, needs, and goals, which are crucial for patient care and personal interactions with those we care about. Therapy enhances both personal and professional interactions by focusing on the following:
• Encouraging healthier, open communication
• Practicing active and objective listening
• Discovering your own stereotypes and learning from them
• Fostering respectful and honest communication to build (or regain) trust
7) Use Anger Wisely / Learn your Emotional Triggers
In the high-stress environment of healthcare, anger is a common and natural response. For physicians and healthcare professionals, therapy can be a valuable tool in learning how to handle one’s emotions constructively. A Marvin therapist can assist in identifying what triggers anger and develop strategies for managing it effectively. Effectively dealing with anger is vital in preventing it from escalating into issues like depression and hypertension or even workplace issues. This will go a long way to improving your relationships and building trust.
8) Learn to Grieve & Heal
Everyone grieves differently, and sometimes it isn’t easy to let go. Physicians and healthcare professionals often face emotionally challenging situations, like losing patients or making difficult decisions. Our therapists have various coping exercises they can teach you to encourage healing. These important skills allow individuals to work through their thoughts and feelings, helping them to move forward.
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So why does Marvin specialize in therapy for physicians and healthcare workers?
Because there is an absolute need to recognize that physicians and healthcare professionals are people too, and are just as susceptible to the pain and vulnerabilities that all others have. Now, more than ever, it is OK to ask for help to improve your wellness and self-care.
Sign up today at www.signup.Meetmarvin.com
Marvin Behavioral Health specializes in:
• Treating physicians and health care workers who understand your unique stressors
• Providing diverse therapists based on your preferred ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, or language, etc.
• Providing 24/7 availability including nights and weekends
• Quick therapy matching appointments
• Insurance and private pay accepted with no super bills, and often copay only
Thank you to David Ulick, M.D., Mitch Martin, and the Physician Executive Wellness Steering Committee at Huntington Health for their contributions to this blog.