I coach physicians to gain shared understanding about their suffering and facilitate shifts in perception that reveal opportunities for behavioral change and transformation. It means I'm frequently exposed to stories of deep suffering & pain.
How I maintain my energy
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How I maintain my energy
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1. Clear boundaries.
I know what territory I can cover and when to refer onward. I'm clear about my limits and communicate that at the beginning of the relationship and as we co-create our working together agreement.
I break from work when I'm in the thick of my own process.
I know what territory I can cover and when to refer onward. I'm clear about my limits and communicate that at the beginning of the relationship and as we co-create our working together agreement.
I break from work when I'm in the thick of my own process.
2. Know my triggers
We all have sensitivities to specific topic or themes. Knowing about my own wounds makes it easier for me to self-soothe & maintain focus on them when my client is dealing with an issue that has been a wound for me ie bullying, exclusion, oppression, death
We all have sensitivities to specific topic or themes. Knowing about my own wounds makes it easier for me to self-soothe & maintain focus on them when my client is dealing with an issue that has been a wound for me ie bullying, exclusion, oppression, death
3. Self-Soothing
Breathwork + moving my awareness into my heart space quickly helps me return to a centred state when I'd become activated by someone's story.
Sometimes I pause with my client to guide a breathing process together (if appropriate and consensual)
Breathwork + moving my awareness into my heart space quickly helps me return to a centred state when I'd become activated by someone's story.
Sometimes I pause with my client to guide a breathing process together (if appropriate and consensual)
4. Role clarity
I'm there to hold space & witness their process. I do this with reflective listening & sharing observations about the patterns, strengths, values emerging from their story. We explore options. They don't need me to fix, change, heal them. They're whole & complete
I'm there to hold space & witness their process. I do this with reflective listening & sharing observations about the patterns, strengths, values emerging from their story. We explore options. They don't need me to fix, change, heal them. They're whole & complete
5. Be insignificant
Needing to be needed or seeking significance as a practitioner through work, being pulled into re-enacting family system trauma/wound and exploring their woundedness without also seeing their strengths, capacity for change & resourcefulness is depleting.
Needing to be needed or seeking significance as a practitioner through work, being pulled into re-enacting family system trauma/wound and exploring their woundedness without also seeing their strengths, capacity for change & resourcefulness is depleting.
6. Expand my tolerance to suffering
Explore/confront/illuminate/resolve the contents of my shadow/emotional wounds in therapy, peer debriefing, coaching & reflective practice.
I can only tolerate in others what I can tolerate within myself.
Explore/confront/illuminate/resolve the contents of my shadow/emotional wounds in therapy, peer debriefing, coaching & reflective practice.
I can only tolerate in others what I can tolerate within myself.
By demystifying myself, It's become easier to notice people's process of emergence with fascination and awe. This puts suffering into a context of personal growth & evolution, rather than illness. People find this liberating and therapeutic, motivating action toward their goals.
7. Letting go of other people's stories of suffering
We can sometimes internalise people's pain in our desire to neutralise people's suffering. Exercises that let go of other people's stories held in our body are surprisingly restorative.
Examples here: drnathaliemartinek.com/resources
We can sometimes internalise people's pain in our desire to neutralise people's suffering. Exercises that let go of other people's stories held in our body are surprisingly restorative.
Examples here: drnathaliemartinek.com/resources
8. Be ok to refer onward if client's issue is too close to home.
Notice what activates you or feels uncomfortable in sessions with clients and bring those issues/themes to supervision/peer support/therapy.
See suffering in the context or humanity, resourcefulness & wholeness.
Notice what activates you or feels uncomfortable in sessions with clients and bring those issues/themes to supervision/peer support/therapy.
See suffering in the context or humanity, resourcefulness & wholeness.
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