The Conscious Clinician Podcast

In this episode, we share our growth-spurt experiences as physical therapists. We realized during mentoring that ALL physical therapists experience growth spurts. It's how we evolve our clinical practice! So long as we keep learning, there will always be periods of change followed by periods that are more steady as we integrate the new information into our practice. We also share our signs of being in a growth spurt and tips for navigating these with less overwhelm!    Thank you for listening to The Conscious Clinician. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and write a review for the podcast so we can reach more people! Let's Connect! Find us on Facebook Connect over Instagram @TheConsciousClinician Connect professionally over LinkedIn with Sammy & Monika

We have spent 36 episodes exploring how to work with someone, build better rapport, collaborate,  move past our own and the patient's roadblocks to improving our quality of care and work. We realized that we haven't talked about when PT is not the answer and how we know we need to end care. In this episode, we explore the reasons why you may choose to recommend discharge, including what we say and examples of how we handle these conversations. We can practice within our ethics AND support the patient to get the care that's best for them.    Highlights from our conversation in Episode 37 (0:34) Introduction (1:24) Ruling out medical red flags (2:39) Psychological considerations (7:52) Meaningful participation: cancellations, availability (15:51) Mismatched PT treatment approach vs patient expectations  (21:56) Lack of progress  (33:30) Unacceptable patient behaviors Thank you for listening to The Conscious Clinician. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and write a review for the podcast so we can reach more people! Let's Connect! Find us on Facebook Connect over Instagram @TheConsciousClinician Connect professionally over LinkedIn with Sammy & Monika

In this episode, we explore fear avoidance. As humans, we all experience fear and some of us exhibit fear avoidance behaviors. As people exhibit more fear avoidance, they also report higher pain intensity levels. This has consistently shown up in pelvic pain, pelvic girdle pain, and persistent musculoskeletal conditions.  We talk through Sammy's patient who exhibited high fear avoidance and how they began confronting it. We also explore how fear-avoidance influenced Monika's clinical practice and how often we see this with healthcare providers. It's not just patients who demonstrate fear-avoidance! In order to do no harm, we need to be aware of our own beliefs and how that shapes our practice too. We hope this one helps you consider fear-avoidance in your work!    Highlights from our conversation in Episode 36 (0:34) What is fear-avoidance  (1:45) A case of high fear-avoidance  (4:50) Addressing the patient's fears head-on  (8:16) Graded exposure to reduce fear   (12:26) Healthcare providers also demonstrate fear-avoidance! (17:51) Factors that contribute to our individual differences in fear  (20:32) Changing our own and our patient's beliefs  Thank you for listening to The Conscious Clinician. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and write a review for the podcast so we can reach more people! Resources from Episode 36 The fear-avoidance article we reference! (1:08, 12:41) Rainville J, et al. Fear-avoidance beliefs and pain avoidance in low back pain—translating research into clinical practice. 2011;11(9), 895–903.         doi:10.1016/j.spinee.2011.08.006      (10:29) Episode 3: Identifying Patient's Readiness to Change (20:45) Episode 5: All About Pain Catastrophizing  Pop Up Pro Annemarie Everett, DPT, WCS (21:13) Episode 11: Authentic Evidence Based Practice with Dr. Annemarie Everett, DPT, WCS Confronting fear avoidance beliefs with Katie (26:38) Episode 20: A Patient's Perspective of Conscious PT Practice with Katie Additional listening: Episode 15: The Power of Understanding Patient Beliefs with Dr. Mike Nelson, DPT   Additional reading:  Alappattu M, Bishop, M. Psychological factors in chronic pelvic pain in women: relevance and application of the fear-avoidance model of pain. Phys Ther. 2011; 91(10):1542-50. doi: 10.2522/ptj.20100368.  Fakari F, Simbar M, Saei Ghare Naz, M. The Relationship between Fear-Avoidance Beliefs and Pain in Pregnant Women with Pelvic Girdle Pain: A Cross-Sectional Study. Int J Community Based Nurs Midwifery. 2018;6(4):305-313. Let's Connect! Find us on Facebook Connect over Instagram @TheConsciousClinician Connect professionally over LinkedIn with Sammy & Monika

One of the few positives from the pandemic was the widespread access to telehealth medical services. Our bet is that it's here to stay. We have been providing telehealth PT since March 2021. We recognize that while it's convenient for patients and providers, it does change the way we interact with our patients. Additionally, providing telehealth from your own home creates unique challenges for providers.  In this episode, we focus on how to prepare and care for yourself to provide telehealth. We explore the way that communication changes when it's virtual and we offer tips that have helped us be more comfortable over video. Finally, we discuss the unexpected benefits of not touching patients, for them and for us. Whether you currently provide telehealth or not, this episode will stir up questions for you to consider that can advance your connection with patients!  Highlights from our conversation in Episode 35 (0:34) Introduction  (1:37) Ensuring patient privacy (3:37) Curating your workspace  (9:58) Self-care tips for clinicians providing telehealth from home   (14:38) Building rapport  (16:14) Identifying who to refer to in-person PT  (19:08) Nonverbal communication  (21:10) Expressing empathy over video  (25:58) The unexpected benefits of losing physical touch (32:58) Our thoughts on the future of telehealth  Thank you for listening to The Conscious Clinician. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and write a review for the podcast so we can reach more people! Resources from Episode 35 Nocebo effect (17:31) Episode 12: Our Words Have the Power to Heal and Harm Legislature and bills for telehealth (34:42) APTA Advocacy for Telehealth Let's Connect! Find us on Facebook Connect over Instagram @TheConsciousClinician Connect professionally over LinkedIn with Sammy & Monika

Picture this: It's a long day. You're behind on notes. You're running late to see the next person and it just feels like the whole day is slipping away from you. And you're thinking, “What happened here and how am I going to dig myself out of this hole?” In this episode, we focus on time management and the self-reflection required to identify strategies for change. We need to take a hard look at what factors are causing us to run behind, because it's not as simple as like, ‘Oh, I'm just running late all the time.” If you've tried all the basic time management hacks, and it's not working, then it's not you! Those things aren't addressing the primary driver of your time management difficulty.  We share strategies for change using The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People as our framework of discussion. We focus on the first three habits today: #1 Be proactive, #2 Start with the end in mind, and #3 Put first things first. Let us know what your favorite time management tips and reflections are in the comments! Highlights from our conversation in Episode 34 (0:34) Introduction  (2:03) Habit #1 - Be Proactive Prepping note, reviewing the documentation  (4:06) Habit #2 - Start With the End in Mind (9:33) Habit #3 - Put First Things First  (13:13) Sticking with a plan long enough to see change  (15:04) Developing your clinical reasoning  (18:05) Self-reflection is our greatest tool for improving time management  (24:45) Discussing time management with patients  Thank you for listening to The Conscious Clinician. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and write a review for the podcast so we can reach more people! Resources from Episode 34 (1:43) The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People (4:12) The Mountain Metaphor Episode 2: The Mountain Metaphor for a Healing Journey (11:16) Pain Catastrophizing Episode 5: All About Pain Catastrophizing  (11:34) Impostor Syndrome in Episode 18: Impostor Syndrome in Healthcare Providers and Episode 24: How to Thrive, Not Just Survive with Yolanda Johnson, MD, FAAP Let's Connect! Find us on Facebook Connect over Instagram @TheConsciousClinician Connect professionally over LinkedIn with Sammy & Monika

Picture this, you're working with a new student or have someone shadowing you. They are eager to learn about your field and have tons of questions to ask you AND the patient. While you love their desire to learn, it's also affecting the flow of the session.  We've certainly been there, so in this episode, we dissect why and how having another person in the room affects patient-centered communication and care. This applies to observers, interns, students, mentors, and anyone else who might be a third body in the treatment space.  We discuss  How having an additional person in the room affects the way we providers interact with the patient The power dynamics between all three (or more) of you   How we can prepare the observer(s) and the patient for this interaction The mindset shift that helps us create a collaborative win-win environment for the patient and observers  Ultimately, when you're the person with the most experience in the room, it really is on you to use that experience to guide the session in a way that everyone wins or at the very least guide in a way where the patient gets what they need.   Highlights from our conversation in Episode 33 (0:34) A case example  (3:22) How another person affects dynamics between patient-provider  (5:44) Preparing students/observers for the visit  (8:27) Preparing the patient for the visit  (9:28) Getting enthusiastic consent for an additional person (13:34) Introducing students & mentors (16:32) The patient is #1 (18:05) How does the dynamic change with 3+ parties in the room? (23:46) The benefits of working with interns/students  (25:40) Self reflection for clinical instructors/mentors  (31:42) Outro Thank you for listening to The Conscious Clinician. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and write a review for the podcast so we can reach more people! Resources from Episode 33 (9:28) FRIES Consent Model in Episode 32: Empowering Folks During Pregnancy, Birth, & Beyond with Dr. Tasha Darden, DPT, Doula (26:37, 28:24) Impostor Syndrome in Episode 18: Impostor Syndrome in Healthcare Providers and Episode 24: How to Thrive, Not Just Survive with Yolanda Johnson, MD, FAAP Let's Connect! Find us on Facebook Connect over Instagram @TheConsciousClinician Connect professionally over LinkedIn with Sammy & Monika  

In this episode, we examine pregnancy, birth, race, and consent through Dr. Tasha Darden's unique lens of pelvic physical therapist and doula. During her pregnancy, she realized “​​that it was really hard to find a doula that looked like me” and since has become the provider she needed. She shares all you need to know about doulas and how they support people in birth. But we can't talk about improving birth outcomes without talking about consent and obstetric violence. Tasha shares the Planned Parenthood model of consent: FRIES along with tips for discussing birth trauma postpartum. Finally, we dive deep into the effects of misogyny, patriarchy, and racism on pregnancy and postpartum experiences. This is a MUST listen-to episode for anyone working with pregnancy/postpartum folks!  -- Dr. Tasha Darden PT, DPT is a Pelvic Physical Therapist and Full Spectrum Doula. She is the owner of Physiodoula, which has a mission to help women shift from surviving to thriving in all phases of their lives. She is passionate about being an advocate in the birth room and in the greater Los Angeles community and has created a program called Reclaim Postpartum. It aims to support Black women and families in postpartum with supplies for parents and babies, meals, hands-on support, and access to free resources such as lactation consultants, physical and occupational therapists, mental health services, etc.  Dr. Tasha feels that there is a lack of accessibility to basic pelvic and sexual health, especially in black and brown communities. She is active on Instagram sharing knowledge about all aspects of women's health including self-care, holistic approaches to healing, optimizing pelvic floor function, body literacy, labor preparation, postpartum recovery, the impact of racism on health, and debunking pelvic health myths. Highlights from our conversation in Episode 32 (0:34) Introducing Dr. Tasha, physiodoula! (4:57) How pelvic PT and doula practice have helped her provide a holistic view with clients (8:42) Defining birth trauma  (12:47) Screening for birth trauma as a pelvic PT in a trauma-informed way  (19:11) What is a doula, what they do, their training, barriers to and benefits of working with a doula (30:31) Racism - not race - is responsible for poorer health outcomes  (33:31) Defining obstetric violence (36:00) Obtaining true consent with FRIES  (43:40) What would happen if we started by saying we are partners in your care? (53:11) Tasha's Lightning Round Thank you for listening to The Conscious Clinician. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and write a review for the podcast so we can reach more people! Resources from Episode 32 (2:09) Reclaim Postpartum Community Initiative in LA  (23:20) Episode 26: Supporting New Parents' Health with Catherine O'Brien, MA, LMFT  (36:24) FRIES Consent by Planned Parenthood Let's Connect! Follow Tasha @physiodoula on Instagram Check out Tasha's website www.physiodoula.com/ for more on her Pelvic PT and Doula Services  Email Dr. Tasha via physiodoula@gmail.com   Find us on Facebook Connect over Instagram @TheConsciousClinician Connect professionally over LinkedIn with Sammy & Monika

In this episode, we finish with part 4 of the SOAP note series: Plan of Care & Prognosis. Often the plan of care is an afterthought, something we consider when documenting or perhaps the last 5 minutes of the evaluation when we schedule follow-up visits. So we asked ourselves “How do we form a mutually agreed-upon plan, which is realistic and considerate of the patient and the provider?”  We share the tips which have helped us create more collaborative plans with patients and the assumptions and fears which have gotten in the way. Our own fears and psychosocial factors can affect the way we develop and show up for the plan of care. At the same time, we realize from this episode that there are so many ways to connect with patients to create a meaningful plan. We hope you enjoy this wrap-up of the SOAP series and would love to hear your thoughts on creating a patient-centered plan of care!  Highlights from our conversation in Episode 31 (0:34) Introduction  (0:52) Presenting the plan as an array of options for the patient  (3:24) How do we get people to invest in the plan? (7:05) Assessing readiness to change  (7:58) Centering the patient within the plan  (10:50) Redefining a successful plan of care  (14:03) Understanding the patient's goals and gauging their participation (18:37) Do we have the physical, emotional, and spiritual space to support this person throughout their plan? (22:05) Moving past our own fears to create a collaborative plan  Thank you for listening to The Conscious Clinician. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and write a review for the podcast so we can reach more people! Resources from Episode 31 (6:22) Episode 2: The Mountain Metaphor for a Healing Journey  (7:16) Episode 3: Identifying Patient's Readiness to Change (14:11) Episode 6: History Taking Pearls & Pitfalls (23:12) Episode 27: Evolving Pelvic Physical Therapy Practice with Meryl Alapattu, DPT, Ph.D.  Missed an episode in the series?  Episode 28: Taking a Patient-Centered History (SOAP Series #1) Episode 29: Performing A Conscious Clinical Exam (SOAP Series #2) Episode 30: Empowering Assessments (SOAP Series #3)   Let's Connect! Find us on Facebook Connect over Instagram @TheConsciousClinician Connect professionally over LinkedIn with Sammy & Monika

In this episode, we continue with part 3 of the SOAP series: The Assessment. We have broken this section out into three key considerations:  What is our assessment of the patient? What information do we share with the patient?  How do we keep reassessing throughout the plan of care?  In addition, we also discuss examining our own biases in assessment, practicing new conversations with peers/mentors, focusing on solutions rather than impairments, and how to fold in biomechanical explanations in an empowering way. Tune in next week for Plan of Care tips!  Highlights from our conversation in Episode 30 (0:34) Introduction  (1:06) Shifting to a patient-centered assessment  (6:45) Examining our own biases  (8:19) How can we share our findings and plan with the patient in an empowering way?  (15:14) An example: low back pain  (17:49) Including tissue damage/healing into the biopsychosocial explanation of pain  (20:11) Ongoing assessment  Thank you for listening to The Conscious Clinician. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and write a review for the podcast so we can reach more people! Resources from Episode 30 (1:23) Episode 3: Identifying Patient's Readiness to Change Missed an episode in the series? Episode 28: Taking a Patient-Centered History (SOAP Series #1) Episode 29: Performing A Conscious Clinical Exam (SOAP Series #2)  Let's Connect! Find us on Facebook Connect over Instagram @TheConsciousClinician Connect professionally over LinkedIn with Sammy & Monika    

In this episode, we continue with part 2 of the SOAP series: the Objective Exam. Most of us learned explicitly and implicitly from our training that the purpose of the exam is for us (the provider) to learn about the patient's body in order to create an appropriate plan of care. However, we've realized that the patient is actually learning about their body during the exam as well!  Everything that we do during the exam process is teaching the patient something about their body. They are internalizing our language and reactions - for better or worse! So in this episode, we focus on tips to help us center the patient during the exam, to tailor each exam to the individual, and empower them with the exam process. Tune in next week for Assessment tips!  Highlights from our conversation in Episode 29 (0:50) Start with enthusiastic and ongoing consent (3:17) Paradigm shift: the exam is where BOTH you and the patient learn about their body   (5:35) Empowering the patient by being mindful of our language  (8:34) Shifting away from pain reproduction to symptom modification (14:06) Selecting meaningful and easily reproducible exam measures (22:35) Keeping the patient's goals in mind  (23:50) Modifying exam intensity (26:50) Asking direct questions and giving succinct instructions  Thank you for listening to The Conscious Clinician. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and write a review for the podcast so we can reach more people! Resources from Episode 29 This is part 1 of a 4 part series. Check out Episode 28: Taking a Patient-Centered History (SOAP Series #1) (2:50) Episode 8: Trauma Informed Pelvic Health Practice with Dr. Krystyna Holland, DPT (8:16) Episode 12: Our Words Have the Power to Heal and Harm (12:51) Episode 10: Grounding Techniques for Patients and Providers (19:21, 20:24) Episode 2: The Mountain Metaphor for a Healing Journey (19:25) Episode 4: “The Fixer” Role of Healthcare Providers Let's Connect! Find us on Facebook Connect over Instagram @TheConsciousClinician Connect professionally over LinkedIn with Sammy & Monika

We are kicking off a 4 part series to explore patient-centered care from where it all begins - the evaluation. We break it into sections using the SOAP note model: Subjective, Objective, Assessment, and Plan. We discuss what we could do to improve rapport with our patients, our efficiency and accuracy in getting to the root of a problem while partnering with our patients as active collaborators. In this episode, we focus on the subjective including building rapport, understanding the patient's experience, and wrapping the subjective up into the objective. How do we learn their story and how do we tease out what will truly help us form a great plan of care with them? Tune in next week for the Objective section tips!  Highlights from our conversation in Episode 28 (0:34) Introduction (1:55) Building rapport & establishing trust  (4:34) Accepting our patients without correction (9:31) Responding with empathy (15:57) Understanding the patient experience  (27:33) Asking about psychosocial factors  (29:32) Wrapping up the subjective  Thank you for listening to The Conscious Clinician. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and write a review for the podcast so we can reach more people! Resources from Episode 28 (22:52) Psychological Approaches to Pain Management: A Practitioner's Handbook, 3rd Edition  Let's Connect! Find us on Facebook Connect over Instagram @TheConsciousClinician Connect professionally over LinkedIn with Sammy & Monika

In this episode, Dr. Meryl Alapattu, DPT, Ph.D. shares with us her experience in assessing psychosocial factors and developing “soft skills” as a researcher and faculty member at the University of Florida.  “I think we were a little bit late to the game in pelvic health, thinking about psychological factors” including fear avoidance. “A lot of these persistent pain conditions have similar factors that contribute to the pain experience…. [When] we look at people with pelvic pain compared to people with knee pain, for example, the types of things that they're fearful of, or the activities that they may avoid related to their pain might be a little bit different” but the underlying processes are the same.  As clinicians, it's our responsibility to learn about and integrate this information into our practice. “Professional development is a career-long thing that all of us are continuing to work on in some way or another.” That includes developing our soft skills to form a therapeutic alliance, communicate with our employers and colleagues, and practice ethically. Meryl also shares what the University of Florida DPT program does to help PT students develop their soft skills.  -- Meryl Alappattu, PT, DPT, Ph.D. graduated with a Doctor of Physical Therapy from the University of Florida (UF) in 2008. After graduation, she completed a year-long clinical residency at the University of Florida Health in Cancer Rehab and has continued her clinical work specializing in rehabilitation for patients with cancer and pelvic health issues. Dr. Alappattu completed her Ph.D. in Rehabilitation Science at the UF in 2014, studying mechanisms of pelvic pain in women, and is currently a Research Assistant Professor in the UF Dept. of Physical Therapy.  Dr. Alappattu has been a member of the American Physical Therapy Association and Florida Physical Therapy Association since 2006. She has served in multiple roles in FPTA, including two terms as Vice President, and currently serves as Speaker of the Florida Assembly of Representatives. She has been a Delegate to the APTA House Delegates since 2014. She also serves on the board of directors for the International Pelvic Pain Society. Highlights from our conversation in Episode 27 (0:34) Meryl's introduction  (6:09) How she came to research psychosocial factors related to persistent pelvic pain  (10:50) Persistent pain education isn't mainstream yet in PT  (14:10) How much of the psychological aspect of patient care is within a PT's scope of practice? (20:12) The importance of “soft skills” as students and clinicians  (28:10) Fostering self-reflection in PT graduate programs  (31:15) Lightning Round  Thank you for listening to The Conscious Clinician. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and write a review for the podcast so we can reach more people! Resources from Episode 27 Psychological Factors in Women with Chronic Pelvic Pain: Relevance and Application of the Fear Avoidance Model (Alappatu 2011) (19:38) Empathy During Patient-Provider Interactions in Women with Chronic pelvic Pain (2021) (28:22) Professional Behaviors Self Assessment Tool Marquette University (32:21) White Fragility by Robin DiAngelo Let's Connect! Follow Meryl on Twitter and Instagram @pundispice Email Meryl meryl@phhp.ufl.edu Find us on Facebook Connect over Instagram @TheConsciousClinician Connect professionally over LinkedIn with Sammy & Monika

In this episode, we have the pleasure of dissecting maternal and paternal mental health with Catherine O'Brien, MA, LMFT. She shares the common issues that new parents experience which contribute to pelvic floor conditions like dyspareunia. While postpartum is a time of massive changes, we need to listen to our patients when they feel like something just isn't right. Catherine helps soon-to-be parents create a postpartum plan because “there's usually a lot of prep for a birth plan… but nobody's like, well then what happens after we bring the baby home?... Your partner is not your plan. They're in this with you. What is your plan together?” Catherine shares her approach to creating this plan from her book Happy With Baby. This is a great episode for anyone who works with parents or is about to be a parent! -- Catherine O'Brien, MA, LMFT is a licensed marriage and family therapist and the founder of HappyWithBaby.com. She created Happy With Baby in order for new parents to discover the advice she wished she had as a parent. Catherine lives in Sacramento, California, where she enjoys paddle boarding and rowing with her husband and two kids. Highlights from our conversation in Episode 26 (0:34) Catherine's story & founding Happy With Baby (6:06) New parent psychosocial factors contributing to sexual dysfunction (10:00) Postpartum mood and anxiety disorders  (15:17) The importance of sleep for wellbeing  (19:14) The need for & how to create a postpartum plan (25:55) Catherine's book Happy With Baby (29:12) Lightning Round Thank you for listening to The Conscious Clinician. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and write a review for the podcast so we can reach more people! Resources from Episode 26 Visit Catherine's website for more information www.happywithbaby.com (25:55) Read Catherine's book Happy With Baby (29:50) The Power of Showing Up by Daniel J. Siegel and Tina Payne Bryson Let's Connect! Find us on Facebook Connect over Instagram @TheConsciousClinician Connect professionally over LinkedIn with Sammy & Monika

In this episode, we discuss pelvic health from the lens of physiatry with Dr. Allyson Shrikhande, MD. She is the medical director and founder of Pelvic Rehabilitation Medicine (PMR), offering true multidisciplinary care for people with pelvic floor dysfunction. Allyson shares what a pelvic health physiatrist does, saying “we're trained really to look at the interplay between the organ systems with each other, as well as the organ systems with the fascia, the muscles, and the nervous system.” Physiatrists can serve as the quarterback for people with pelvic floor dysfunction, referring them to the various specialties. She also shares how all of us pelvic providers can work together and how the mind-body connection affects pelvic pain. -- Dr. Allyson Shrikhande, MD, a board-certified Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation specialist, is the Chief Medical Officer of Pelvic Rehabilitation Medicine. She is also the Chair of the Medical Education Committee for the International Pelvic Pain Society. She is working with other experts in the field of chronic pelvic pain to develop training modules for residents and physicians interested in learning about the diagnosis, treatment, and management of chronic pelvic pain. A leading expert on pelvic health and a respected researcher, author, and lecturer, Dr. Shrikhande is a recognized authority on male and female pelvic pain diagnosis and treatment.   Highlights from our conversation in Episode 25 (0:34) Allyson's introduction & journey into pelvic health  (7:02) Facilitating a collaborative approach for pelvic pain (11:59) Tips for communicating with physiatrists (14:39) Addressing psychological concerns in pelvic health (19:03) Allyson's experience in building rapport with patients   (20:17) Patient case example (23:10) The common culprit behind “non-responsive” patients   (25:02) When and how to refer to physiatrists (27:13) Allyson's lightning round Thank you for listening to The Conscious Clinician. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and write a review for the podcast so we can reach more people! Resources from Episode 25 (13:49) Working with Physiatry for Pelvic Pain (Herman & Wallace Course) (26:36) Finding a PM&R doc  Pelvic Rehabilitation Medicine Locations International Pelvic Pain Society Find a Provider Let's Connect! Find Dr. Allyson Shrikhande, MD on:https://www.pelvicrehabilitation.com/ Instagram Facebook Twitter  Find The Conscious Clinician on Facebook Connect over Instagram @TheConsciousClinician Connect professionally over LinkedIn with Sammy & Monika

In this episode, we unpack overwhelm and burnout with Dr. Yolanda Johnson, MD, FAAP. As a pediatrician, mom, and coach for women in healthcare, Yolanda knows that doing it all means burning out. She shares practical tips to start shifting out of survival mode and begin discovering who you are, how you want to work, and what needs to change. For the first time, Dr. Yolanda shares her experience of impostor syndrome during residency and how that led to her passion for coaching. We dive deep into the counterintuitive need to slow down and do less when we feel overwhelmed, how to face our inner critics with compassion, and the power of mentorship in creating a sustainable practice. This episode helps us see that we're not alone in our struggles or our desires for a more enjoyable work-life experience! -- Dr. Yolanda Johnson is a board-certified pediatrician in private practice in the metro Atlanta, GA area, and a certified health and wellness coach.  She is passionate about helping women in healthcare conquer overwhelm, build healthy boundaries, and get unstuck.  She is mother to 4 amazing sons, and enjoys running, reading, and napping in her free time. Highlights from our conversation in Episode 24 (0:34) Yolanda's bio & her experience of impostor syndrome and overwhelm (5:57) Self-reflection as an antidote to burnout (10:23) Impostor Syndrome during residency and in work  (15:27) Common themes from coaching women in healthcare (22:49) How to unpack your overwhelm  (27:55) The power and vulnerability of mentorship  (31:28) Accepting ourselves to start thriving  (36:08) Practicing self-compassion to reduce the inner critic and shame (40:20) Finding a sustainable practice & discovering what we want  (48:32) Lightning round Thank you for listening to The Conscious Clinician. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and write a review for the podcast so we can reach more people! Resources from Episode 24 (6:22) Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking by Susan Cain (6:56) Mindset: Changing the Way You Think to Fulfill Your Potential by Carol S Dweck (11:57) Imposter Syndrome Diagram  Let's Connect! Follow Yoland on IG @gobeyondcoachmd for more tips and coaching Find us on Facebook Connect over Instagram @TheConsciousClinician Connect professionally over LinkedIn with Sammy & Monika

In this episode, we have the pleasure of speaking with Dr. Brian Stirling, DPT, OCS who treats male pelvic health and orthopedics. Brian shares the barriers he's encountered as a male specializing in pelvic health as he wants to expand to treating all genders of patients. We discuss inclusive care, which develops when we have the courage to face our biases, remove educational barriers, and support a variety of providers joining the specialty! We explore how our own fears (for our license, saying the wrong thing, avoiding litigation) have influenced our practice patterns. Brian leads us into a conversation exploring male biases in pelvic health - what male-identifying patients ask for and what our own biases as providers treating them are. This episode helps expand our understanding of an inclusive pelvic health specialty for patients and providers alike.  -- Dr. Brian Stirling is a residency trained Board Certified Orthopedic Specialist since 2020. He is a physical therapist at Agile Physical Therapy and treats pelvic health and orthopedics. When he first took a dip into treating pelvic health, his eyes opened up to a whole world of medicine that he didn't know existed. The amount of potential knowledge to gain, growth to inhabit, and patients to heal in a unique and fulfilling capacity made him excited to specialize in this field. He is eager to share his experiences as a male treating pelvic health. Highlights from our conversation in Episode 23 (0:34) Brian's introduction & how he got into pelvic health (5:36) Practicing as a male in a female-dominated specialty (8:12) How our fears have affected our pelvic PT practices  (16:25) Integrating orthopedics and pelvic health  (21:56) Nuances and biases of male pelvic health (26:13) Developing inclusive care practices  (40:43) Removing educational barriers for male providers (45:34) Brian's Lightning Round Thank you for listening to The Conscious Clinician. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and write a review for the podcast to grow our community. Keep the conversation going by following The Conscious Clinician on Instagram and Facebook.  Resources from Episode 23 (47:42) Quiet by Susan Cain Email Brian stirlingdpt@gmail.com Connect with Brian on LinkedIn Let's Connect! Find us on Facebook Connect over Instagram @TheConsciousClinician Connect professionally over LinkedIn with Sammy & Monika

In this episode, we dive deep into pain science how-to's with Josh Bellingham, MPT. As a physio, Josh is passionate about providing accessible resources to people with persistent pain. He believes that the relationship between a patient and provider is the vehicle for changing limiting beliefs, which ultimately are the reason people make progress.  Josh is an advocate for using current pain science with ALL people experiencing pain, at any point along their journey. We explore how this looks for different populations and how to tell if someone is willing to "go there". He shares how the Loeser “onion ring” model of pain helps us see the various layers of inputs that facilitate or inhibit pain. We also discuss how to handle imaging and “diagnosis seeking” in a pain-science-informed, patient-centered way.  Josh shares metaphors for describing pain as an alarm, the development of pain sensitivity, and contextual factors which create physiological responses such as muscle guarding. He's also an advocate of adding pain science to people's lives outside of the clinic, through social media, apps, and Netflix. This episode is an easy listen to review pain science concepts and come away with new clinical pearls! -- Josh holds a Bachelor's degree in Kinesiology and a Master's degree in physiotherapy from the University of Manitoba. Josh began his career with a focus on exercise and sports performance, but over the years developed a passion for understanding and managing complex pain. Josh has completed a variety of courses in pain management through "Pain BC" and regularly participates in their weekly clinical discussions. In addition to working full time in private practice, Josh is also active on his website, chronicpainphysio.ca as well as Instagram to advocate for and support people living with chronic pain. When he's not in the clinic or working on content for "Chronic Pain Physio", you'll find Josh hiking in the mountains of beautiful British Columbia. Highlights from our conversation in Episode 22 (0:34) Josh's background and current projects (6:03) Pain science for acute care / chronicity prevention (10:35) Metaphors for explaining pain  (20:09) Loeser's “onion ring” model of pain in clinical practice  (24:26) Listening vs special tests for understanding pain  (27:01) How diagnostic imaging contributes to uncertainty, feeling out of control, and lack of information (33:35) Responding to people who're seeking a diagnosis (42:46) How to meet people where they're at for pain science  (49:20) The overlap between psychology and physical rehab for pain  (55:54) Josh's Lightning Round Thank you for listening to The Conscious Clinician. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and write a review for the podcast to grow our community. Keep the conversation going by following The Conscious Clinician on Instagram and Facebook.  Resources from Episode 22 Check out Josh's Website - https://www.chronicpainphysio.ca/ and follow him on IG @chronicpainphysio Loeser's “onion ring” model of pain Burnout & How To Complete The Stress Cycle (Podcast) Headspace - Guide To Meditation (Netflix) Headspace - Guide to Sleep (Netflix) Tame The Beast - Rethinking Persistent Pain (Youtube) OA Optimism with Greg Lehman (Youtube)  Let's Connect! Connect over Instagram @TheConsciousClinician Find The Conscious Clinician on Facebook

In this episode, we discuss how you can't separate racism from healthcare with Dr. Uchenna “UC” Ossai, PT, DPT, WCS, CLT. As the only Black pelvic health physical therapist certified in Sexuality Counseling, UC has been empowering people to embrace their sexuality with their whole selves - and in spite of what society may be telling them.  This leads us into discussing the spectrums of pleasure, joy, race, sexuality, and how these factors all affect a person's experience of sex. We explore the archetypes which affect black women's health and sexual wellbeing, in the context of a country-wide awakening to racism and oppression.  UC says “You're going to have racist ideology and behaviors, and you're going to ascribe to it because it's in everything. It's like really not fun glitter. And once you understand that it's there,  then you can actually have more peace.” In order to be conscious clinicians, we must be aware of the systems at play around us, learn the histories that led to our present day, and seek out mentors. Only when we are aware of history can we truly begin to make meaningful changes in our friendships, educational systems, and clinics.  -- Dr. Uchenna “UC” Ossai PT, DPT, WCS, CLT is the creator/founder of YouSeeLogic, a judgment-free social media platform dedicated to the sex education and empowerment of adults/”grown folk”.  When it comes to sexual intelligence and great sex education, Dr. UC embraces always being unapologetically real and authentically kind.  She is also an assistant professor at the University of Texas Dell Medical School for the Department of Women's Health and manager of the pelvic health physical therapy program at UT Health Austin.   Highlights from our conversation in Episode 21 (0:34) UC's intro & current projects (3:47) Pleasure as an act of rebellion  (7:08) Racism in the places we live, learn, and work (17:24) How to practice inclusive anti-racist care (23:49) UC removing the performative mask & self-care (31:13) Harmful archetypes of black women which drive sexual (dys)function  (41:15) Accepting the word “racist” (44:32) Lightning Round Questions Thank you for listening to The Conscious Clinician. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and write a review for the podcast to grow our community. Keep the conversation going by following The Conscious Clinician on Instagram and Facebook.  Resources from Episode 21 To be in touch with UC visit www.youseelogic.com and follow her on Instagram @youseelogic  (20:12) UC's course: Intersections of Race and Power: Healthcare Redefined (Live 6/26/21)  (38:37) Dr. David William's Ted Talk: How Racism Makes Us Sick Let's Connect! Find us on Facebook Connect over Instagram @TheConsciousClinician Connect professionally over LinkedIn with Sammy & Monika

In this episode, we have a special guest, Katie, joining us. Katie is actually the patient from Episode 19: Putting It All Together: A Case Study of Conscious Clinical Practice. This is a unique opportunity for a former patient and provider to reflect upon their experience working together. Be sure to listen to Episode 19 first for context!  Katie shares his first reaction to E:19. In his words “It was fascinating to hear the two of you talk together and to learn what does it sound like when practitioners are talking to each other and what are some of the common thoughts or assumptions or experiences, especially working with someone who has chronic pain.”  We dive deeper into his corrections for E:19, the power of focusing on what's important to the patient about their pain, how providers' responses can build and break rapport with patients, how our time in PT was different than his prior experiences, and share how we were both affected by working together. This is not one to miss!  -- Katie is a Director of Finance for a small nonprofit. His journey with chronic pain led him to change career paths six years ago, going back to school for an MBA, having previously worked in outdoor education – running rock climbing, ropes course, and canoeing programs with kids. Katie is queer and transgender, and a writer and activist on gender justice, who recognizes that chronic pain and other chronic health conditions are much more prevalent in marginalized groups who often experience chronic trauma and stress. These days, Katie enjoys playing fetch and going for walks with his goofy pitbull, Loki, but he is looking forward to rock climbing again someday. Highlights from our conversation in Episode 20 (0:34) Introducing Katie  (2:01) His first reaction to Episode 19 (5:44) Katie's E:19 correction - the link between stress & pain  (9:28) The pivotal moment of discovering neural tension  (11:22) How providers are (unintentionally) gaslighting  (15:00) Katie's side of the initial evaluation  (18:10) What's important to patients vs providers about pain (22:05) A trauma-informed perspective  (25:17) Providers are specialized but patients are specific  (28:23) What patient's DO want from healthcare providers (32:43) Generalists, specialists, and connecting the dots (37:04) Pain rating scale and management (40:15) On asking patients what they want  (45:26) Nocebic quotes from Katie's healthcare providers (51:02) “You're not fragile”  (54:48) Lightning Round Thank you for listening to The Conscious Clinician. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and write a review for the podcast to grow our community. Keep the conversation going by following The Conscious Clinician on Instagram and Facebook.  Resources from Episode 20 (0:43) Episode 19: Putting It All Together: A Case Study of Conscious Clinical Practice (55:24) My Grandmother's Hands by Resmaa Menaken (58:03) Radically Listening to Transgender Children Let's Connect! Find us on Facebook Connect over Instagram @TheConsciousClinician Connect professionally over LinkedIn with Sammy & Monika

In this episode, Monika shares a case study to illustrate integrating the principles of emotional intelligence, trauma-informed, and patient-centered care. It's a story we're all familiar with: a man with chronic low back pain.  He was in the midst of a prolonged flare-up when they started working together and had seen many physical therapists before. She realized that she would have to do something different if they wanted a new result.  With this in mind, we discuss how Monika: Prepared herself mentally and emotionally for a different approach Shifted her focus from “fixing” to collaborating  Listened closely Managed her own emotional reactions  Confronted her own biases about injections Challenged his fear-avoidance beliefs (gradually) Tune in to hear his story and her behind-the-scenes thought processes. We hope this inspires you to reflect on a case and share it with a conscious clinician! Note: Some details have been omitted and/or changed in order to maintain patient privacy. The patient consented to share this material.  Highlights from our conversation in Episode 19 (1:41) Case introduction  (5:18) Patient-centered history taking  (12:06) The power of preparing for patient care  (13:49) Trauma-informed care in action  (16:46) The ripple effect of conscious clinical practice  (19:30) How did follow-ups go? (25:24) Injections, nocebo, and self-awareness  (28:58) A major turning point in autonomy  (34:50) Planning for the future  (38:56) Reconciling your identity with chronic pain (40:39) Wrap up and final thoughts  Thank you for listening to The Conscious Clinician! If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and write a review for the podcast to grow our community. Keep the conversation going by following The Conscious Clinician on Instagram and Facebook.  Resources for Episode 19 (5:18) Episode 6: History Taking Pearls & Pitfalls (10:15; 26:02) Episode 12: Our Words Have the Power to Heal and Harm  (12:17) Episode 15: The Power of Understanding Patient Beliefs with Mike Nelson, DPT  (13:20) Episode 4: The Fixer (13:49) Episode 9 Dr. Brie Robertori, PsyD on Vicarious Trauma in Healthcare and Episode 8: Dr. Krystyna Holland on Trauma-Informed Pelvic Health Practice Let's Connect! Find us on Facebook Connect over Instagram @TheConsciousClinician Connect professionally over LinkedIn with Sammy & Monika

In this episode, we shed light on impostor syndrome in healthcare. This all too common phenomenon is an isolating experience. Providers who feel like impostors are constantly striving to earn the acceptance they cannot give to themselves. This is most common in marginalized groups including people of color, first-generation college students, and women in male-dominated fields. If not addressed it worsens as people attain more prestige/higher positions and is associated with burnout.  We share our experiences with impostor syndrome and how this has affected us in the clinic. Feeling inadequate or like a fraud definitely influences how a provider interacts with patients. Impostor syndrome is shaped by our thoughts and beliefs, which thankfully we can change. We end by discussing strategies that help us face impostor syndrome.  Highlights from our conversation in Episode 18 (0:34) Introduction (1:58) Defining Impostor Syndrome (IS) (2:30) Who is most likely to experience IS  (5:15) The link between IS and mental health  (5:45) Monika's experience with IS  (7:45) How IS can show up in clinical practice  (12:24) Sammy's experience with IS (19:55) Self-compassion as an antidote  (22:35) Affirmations to develop compassion (23:49) Connecting with others  (25:36) Seeking feedback to retrain your brain  (29:33) Adjusting your expectations of yourself  (30:04) Improving your self-awareness  (31:45) Cognitive Behavioral Therapy  Thank you for listening to The Conscious Clinician. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and write a review for the podcast to grow our community. Keep the conversation going by following The Conscious Clinician on Instagram and Facebook.  Resources from Episode 18 (20:51) Self-Compassion: The Proven Power of Being Kind to Yourself by Kristen Neff What is self-compassion? Test your level of self-compassion (30:04) Impostor Syndrome test (31:45) Finding a CBT therapist Let's Connect! Find us on Facebook Connect over Instagram @TheConsciousClinician Connect professionally over LinkedIn with Sammy & Monika

Have you ever had a moment where you realize that a patient did not understand what you thought you educated them on? We have! In this episode, we share our strategies for providing patient-centered education rather than lecturing. We've developed a checklist to follow: Assess their current understanding Ask permission to share your knowledge or perspective  Identify their skepticism and response  Break it down into chunks Check their interpretation   We explain each step, how we do it, and why we do so. We've learned that patient-centered education is an ongoing process, especially when we're working to change a limiting belief. This strategy helps us meet people where they are and provide tailored education that's meaningful to the individual we're working with.  Highlights from our conversation in Episode 17 (1:12) Monika's case example of patient “education” that went awry (5:17) Lecturing versus educating/counseling  (7:18) #1 Assess their current understanding (9:45) Sammy's case example of skipping step #1 (11:07) #2 Ask permission to share your knowledge (13:38) #3 Identify their skepticism and response   (19:08) #4 Break it down into chunks (21:18) #5 Check their interpretation  (23:46) The snowball of patient-centered education  Thank you for listening to The Conscious Clinician. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and write a review for the podcast to grow our community. Keep the conversation going by following The Conscious Clinician on Instagram and Facebook.  Resources from Episode 17 (23:06) Episode 11: Authentic Evidence-Based Practice with Annemarie Everett, DPT, WCS Let's Connect! Find us on Facebook Connect over Instagram @TheConsciousClinician Connect professionally over LinkedIn with Sammy & Monika

In this episode, we explore how to establish healthy patient-provider boundaries around discussing personal matters. Sammy describes a patient experience that started as a discussion of pain-related stress and evolved into the patient sharing personal conflicts, relational issues, and more.  Sammy felt uncomfortable and realized that the patient was seeking emotional support that exceeded her scope of practice. After multiple attempts to redirect and focus on PT, she had a direct conversation with the patient.  These types of situations can challenge our personal and professional boundaries. Each of our definitions of “oversharing” varies, however, practicing with emotional intelligence does not mean you have to do the emotional work for your patients. We share techniques for redirecting people, what's worked and what hasn't for us. We hope that this episode helps you maintain your integrity in your relationship with patients. Highlights from our conversation in Episode 16 (0:55) We discuss Sammy's experience with a patient oversharing  (11:32) Responding to and redirecting emotional dumping (16:07) Identifying the difference between disclosure and venting  (18:34) Does the patient need a new therapist? (20:38) How your emotional intelligence can help you navigate this situation  Thank you for listening to The Conscious Clinician. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and write a review for the podcast to grow our community. Keep the conversation going by following The Conscious Clinician on Instagram and Facebook.  Resources from Episode 16 (6:23) The Mountain Metaphor (6:33, 21:48) Emotional Intelligence for Healthcare Providers  Let's Connect! Find us on Facebook Connect over Instagram @TheConsciousClinician Connect professionally over LinkedIn with Sammy & Monika

In this episode, we have the pleasure of interviewing Mike Nelson, DPT about patient-centered care. We've both worked with Mike and admire his dedication to building a relationship with patients that helps facilitate change. After reflecting on moments of tough interactions, he began a quest to create more structure in his communication and found motivational interviewing. Since then he's been passionate about connecting closely, integrating evidence, and sharing a message of hope with his patients.  Together we unpack buzzwords like: shared decision making, patient-centered care, motivational interviewing, and program adherence. What do these terms mean and how does that sound when we talk with patients? Mike shares practical answers to burning questions like “How do we respond to high pain catastrophizing” and “How can we help patients change their unhelpful beliefs?” We also debunk the myth of compliance in favor of empathetic listening and replace “I've got to fix them” with shared decision-making. You'll enjoy this episode if you're interested in understanding your patients on a deeper level!  -- Mike is a clinical director at Agile Physical Therapy and a part-time professor of orthopedics at the UCSF/SFSU DPT program. He is also an adjunct faculty member in the Agile Orthopedic Residency and helps with research and education for PhysioTree. He is passionate about helping bridge the gap between evidence-based medicine and clinical practice.  Highlights from our conversation with Mike Nelson, DPT (0:34) Introducing Mike Nelson, DPT (4:09) How & why we need to stratify patients' risk for disability  (9:56) Mike's entry into motivational interviewing  (13:37) Training communication skills and EQ (17:28) What is patient-centered communication? (21:39) How can we respond better to pain catastrophizing?  (25:34) Understanding your patient's pain belief system  (32:59) Improving patient buy-in and adherence (40:08) Additional tips for catastrophizing, patient education, & empathy  (43:41) Mike's lightning round Thank you for listening to The Conscious Clinician. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and write a review for the podcast to grow our community. Keep the conversation going by following The Conscious Clinician on Instagram and Facebook.  Resources from Episode 15 (2:10) Mike's app in progress: Physiotree  (5:47, 21:44-24:42) Episode 5: Pain Catastrophizing (16:39) Nonviolent Communication (25:56) The Common-Sense Model of Self-Regulation (CSM): a dynamic framework for understanding illness self-management (2016) Let's Connect! Email Mike at mikenelsonpt@gmail.com  Connect professionally over LinkedIn with Mike Find us on Facebook Connect over Instagram @TheConsciousClinician Connect professionally over LinkedIn with Sammy & Monika

In this episode, we are so excited to bring you part 2 of emotional intelligence (EQ). First, check out Part 1: EQ for Healthcare Providers (Episode 13). Emotional intelligence affects both patient and provider outcomes. A staggering 80% of medical errors are due to miscommunication (2014). Logically, improving our EQ will help us connect with people of different backgrounds, communicate clearly, and thus improve patient outcomes. However, we were surprised to find that there is relatively little research exploring EQ and patient outcomes. The link between EQ, burnout, and resilience has received more empirical attention. Emotional intelligence is inversely correlated with burnout because EQ increases resilience. When we consider the key components of EQ (self-awareness, self-regulation, motivation, empathy, and social skills) this relationship makes sense! The higher your EQ, the more coping skills you will have, and the more stress you can tolerate in a healthy sense, like the emotional version of overload.  Both of us have experienced burnout and looking back we see how our EQ was a factor in both the issue and the solution. We hope that by sharing our experience we can help you feel like you are not alone and offer insights into what we can do to reduce burnout. We've worked to develop EQ and share practical strategies for how to cultivate it.  Highlights from our conversation in Episode 14 (0:39) - Intro  (2:03) - EQ and patient outcomes  (3:59) - EQ and burnout  (7:09) - Sammy's burnout & EQ reflection (10:19) - Monika's burnout & EQ reflection (13:14) - Identifying your energizers and depleters  (22:50) - Charting your daily energy levels (26:53) - Structuring your day to optimize your energy  (30:06) - Prioritizing your personal needs  Thank you for listening to The Conscious Clinician. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and write a review for the podcast to grow our community. Keep the conversation going by following The Conscious Clinician on Instagram and Facebook.  Resources from Episode 14 (2:03) The Relationship of Bedside Nurses' Emotional Intelligence with Quality of Care 2014  (2:03) The Importance of Emotional Intelligence in Delivering Patient Centered Care  (7:02) A Conceptual Model of Medical Student Well-Being; Promoting Resilience and Reducing Burnout 2008  (22:54, 26:53) Dr. Shahid Medical Education  Let's Connect!  Find us on Facebook Connect over Instagram @TheConsciousClinician Connect professionally over LinkedIn with Sammy & Monika

In part 1 of a two-part series, we break down emotional intelligence (EQ), what it is, and how it shows up in clinical practice. We have discussed several of the skills of EQ in our previous episodes, so it's about time we focus specifically on this skill!  Emotional intelligence is the ability to monitor your own and others' feelings, to discriminate amongst them, and use this information to guide your thinking and action. EQ is a skill that can be developed, the cornerstone of those elusive yet important “soft skills.” We discuss the skills which make up EQ, based on the works of Daniel Goleman and Salovey & Mayer.  Although “being emotional” carries a negative connotation in the workplace, the truth is that we all feel. We feel joy, gratitude, anger, sadness, compassion, even pain when working with patients. The more nuanced we can be when naming emotions and the quicker we pay attention to an emotion,  the easier it will be to diffuse.  Our EQ helps or hinders our ability to cultivate healthy relationships with patients and peers. The emotions we acknowledge in others build trust and safety. The emotions we miss lead to miscommunication, lack of motivation, and frustration for both parties. EQ is an essential component for developing healthy patient-provider relationships. Tune in next week for Part 2: Strategies to Improve Your EQ!  Highlights from our conversation in Episode 13  (0:40)  Welcome back to The Conscious Clinician, this week we discuss emotional intelligence  (2:42)  Defining emotional intelligence  (4:25)  Skill 1: Self Awareness  (6:30)  Building our emotional vocabulary  (14:45)  Skill 2: Self Regulation (20:09)  Skill 3: Motivation  (21:13)  Skill 4: Empathy  (24:03)  Emotional blind spots (30:58)  Monika & Sammy's EQ difficulties  (36:24)  Skill 5: Social Skills  (37:10) 4 skills from Salovey and Mayer model  Thank you for listening to The Conscious Clinician. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and write a review for the podcast to grow our community. Keep the conversation going by following The Conscious Clinician on Instagram and Facebook.  Links HBR's 10 Must Read on Emotional Intelligence (1:27; 4:25; 14:45, 20:09; 21:13; 36:24) Salovey and Mayer 1990 (2:16; 2:42; 37:10) Feelings Inventory (7:55) Emotion Wheel (8:00) Test Your Emotional Intelligence (12:58) The Language of Emotions by Karla McLaren (25:30; 27:21) Follow The Conscious Clinician on Facebook Connect over Instagram @TheConsciousClinician Connect professionally over LinkedIn with Sammy & Monika 

In this episode, we focus on the power of language in clinical practice. We've all seen patients who are hypervigilant or scared of movement because they've heard their pelvis is unstable, their pelvic floor muscles are too weak, they have disc degeneration, etc.  These biomechanical and kinesiopathological explanations of pain paint an image that their body is broken and they must rely on our help to fix it. So we have to consider every statement that we're making and have an intent behind it.  How does this sound to someone who doesn't know much about anatomy and treatment? Are we empowering or creating dependency? What are we conveying to people with our marketing? Let's change our words to reflect our message of empowerment, from “common not normal” to “common and treatable.”  Expectations are the key to unlocking the power of language because we're constantly setting people up for something. Our words shape patient expectations which produce chemical changes within their brain that may affect outcomes. When positive, we call this the placebo effect, and when negative it's the nocebo effect. There are specific strategies that emphasize the negative which we may not even realize we're using. We dive into each of these and offer suggestions for reframing how we speak to people.  Highlights from our conversation in Episode 12 Introduction and patient examples (0:40) Placebo definition and effects (5:13) Nocebo definition and effects (7:11) How patients may hear our “explanations” of their pain (11:26) Pelvic floor marketing using nocebo language (16:59) Strategies to improve your communication with patients (22:33) #1 Reduce uncertainty / Build confidence (23:36) #2 Limit jargon / use layman's terms (27:50) #3 Avoid ambiguity / Be clear (29:16) #4 De-emphasize the negative / Embrace the positive (31:47) #5 Focus attention on / outside of pain (32:51)  #6 Stop trivializing / start empathizing (37:33) Practice with a PT friend before you see the patient (41:25) Thank you for listening to The Conscious Clinician. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and write a review for the podcast to grow our community. Keep the conversation going by following The Conscious Clinician on Instagram and Facebook.  Resources from Episode 12 Episode 11: Authentic Evidence-Based Practice with Annemarie Everett, DPT, WCS (3:16) Placebo effect research Bendetti et al 2007 (5:41) Nocebo effect research from Bendetti et al 2007 (7:30) Quote from Bendetti et al 2007 “expecting a painful stimulus…” (8:11)  Nocebo effect on erectile function (9:15) Epidural pain based on provider language from Häuser et al 2012 (9:54) Unintended negative suggestion in everyday clinical practice from Häuser et al 2012 (22:50; 23:36; 27:50; 29:16; 31:47; 32:51; 37:33) Risk factors for pelvic girdle pain development and persistence from Clinton et al 2017 (26:05)  Let's connect!  Find us on Facebook Stay up to date on Instagram @TheConsciousClinician Connect professionally over LinkedIn with Sammy & Monika

In this episode, we dive deep into PT practice, what it is and what it could be, with Annemarie Everett, DPT, WCS. She shares how she co-founded POPUp and the humbling lessons she learned to approach patients who have prolapse with dignity, honesty, and autonomy.  This patient-centered approach to practice was shaped by her personal growth. At a low point, Annemarie realized that she had to stop assuming responsibility for other people's happiness, fulfillment, and ability to achieve their goals. Something had to give. She started asking “what can I create for people and what can I see in people that I maybe didn't recognize before? And how can I feel okay?” She focused on authenticity, dropping facades that she “knew it all” and had all the answers. Now her focus “is making sure that I can show up as myself and practice in a way that sits well with my conscience.”  No one warned us in PT school that we can't fix how people feel and carry their burdens. So we discuss how PT schools and practitioners can do better by focusing on soft skills, the power of language, and the importance of mentorship. This is a thought-provoking and encouraging episode!  Bio:  Dr. Annemarie Everett is a Board Certified Women's Health Specialist since 2017. She is passionate about making evidence-based and comprehensive care accessible and routine for pelvic health concerns, particularly in the pre-and post-partum populations. She is a co-founder and co-writer of POPUp, an online educational and community platform for people with pelvic organ prolapse and the providers who serve them.  Highlights from our conversation in Episode 11 Annemarie's intro, current projects, and POPUp (0:34) Practicing with authenticity and focusing on patient autonomy (8:26) Annemarie's backstory and dropping the ego from practice (13:23) PT education: how can it prepare us for the real world? (23:32) Soft skills and the power of language (29:26) How PT failed Annemarie when she was a patient (35:25) Reshaping PT practice: what we can do better (38:59) Creating a cognitive buffer for our patients (44:52) Mentorship to help challenge your clinical assumptions (54:30) Lightning Round (58:02) Thank you for listening to The Conscious Clinician. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and write a review for the podcast to grow our community. Keep the conversation going by following The Conscious Clinician on Instagram and Facebook.  Resources from Episode 11 To get in contact with Annemarie visit her website annemarieeverett.com Check out POPUp and follow on IG @popuplift Annemarie's margarita recipe: Equal parts, lime, tequila, and cointreau, shaken and strained over some ice. Note: it's strong! Find us on Facebook Connect over Instagram @TheConsciousClinician Connect professionally over LinkedIn with Sammy & Monika

In this episode, we explore the concept of grounding in pelvic health. Grounding is “directing attention toward what is happening in the present moment.” It has many benefits for patients AND providers including improved bodily awareness, improved focus, and better problem-solving.  In our experience, grounding can also reduce sympathetic nervous system activation and help regulate emotional reactions. Oftentimes people in pelvic PT feel betrayed by their body or try to avoid bodily signals as a way of adapting to pain. When people are disconnected from their bodies it can affect their progress. Helping people feel safe is a prerequisite to many treatments, such as dilator training and pelvic floor muscle training. Grounding through breathwork, movement, and cognitive exercises can help patients re-orient to the present moment.  Providers may also need to practice this skill throughout sessions for many of the same reasons as patients. When providers are grounded we can hold space for patients and better teach this essential skill. We end by sharing our favorite techniques to use for ourselves and with patients.  Highlights from our conversation in Episode 10 Introduction to Grounding (0:38) Benefits of grounding practices (4:23) Grounding and bodily awareness in PT practice (6:59) Grounding for emotional awareness/regulation (13:44) It starts with us as the provider (18:29) Our favorite techniques (26:57) Focusing on experience rather than the outcome (35:56) Thank you for listening to The Conscious Clinician. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and write a review for the podcast to grow our community. Keep the conversation going by following The Conscious Clinician on Instagram and Facebook.  Resources from Episode 10 The Language of Emotions by Karla McLaren (2:03) Episode 8: Dr. Krystyna Holland on Trauma-Informed Pelvic Health Practice (14:03) Additional handouts of Grounding Techniques  Follow The Conscious Clinician on Instagram  Follow The Conscious Clinician on Facebook  Follow Dr. Sammy Steele on LinkedIn Follow Dr. Monika Stefanowicz on Instagram & LinkedIn

Episode Summary Our special guest in this episode is Dr. Brie Robertori, PsyD, a clinical psychologist who specializes in family therapy, trauma-informed care, and multicultural practice. After experiencing vicarious traumatization through her training, she developed a passion for trauma-informed practice. This passion led her to complete her dissertation as a program evaluation for a trauma recovery clinic, with a goal of ensuring that clients were receiving trauma-informed care and that treating clinicians were receiving support for vicarious trauma exposure. Brie shares best practices when screening for abuse and trauma, including how we can respond with compassion and strength when someone says yes. On the flip side, trauma exposure carries a risk for healthcare providers. “The definition of vicarious trauma is that we're impacted by our clients or our patients and the things that they've gone through, the pain that they've gone through because we care. It's because we care that we get vicariously traumatized. Not because we're not good enough.” She shares how we can create space for ourselves to process our natural responses. We also explore how healthcare systems propagate trauma and what changes would support providers instead. She goes on to say that “We need to pull on every single way that we can articulate and metabolize these experiences and not just alone but in the company of others, which is sharing this with our supervisors and directors and making sure that we have advocates internally because we can't just expect to do this alone. In fact, expecting that it's just something we need to take care of alone is a further perpetuation of this kind of trauma-organized system.” Ultimately, the most courageous thing we can do as providers is care for ourselves, because that will change the system. -- Dr. Robertori has worked with children, families, and adults across the life span who have been impacted by psychological trauma related to domestic violence, child abuse, sexual abuse/assault, community violence, racial marginalization, and immigration ruptures. She is collecting hours for licensure as a Bilingual Family Clinician (Spanish-English) at Through the Looking Glass, a non-profit that serves Medi-Cal clients with intellectual, developmental, or health-related disabilities.  Her therapeutic style is systems-focused, strengths-based, intimate, and warm.  Dr. Robertori completed her B.A. at the University of CA, Berkeley and her Doctorate in Psychology at the Wright Institute in Berkeley. Highlights from our conversation with Dr. Brie Robertori, PsyD Brie's intro and how she got into psychology (0:33) Screening for trauma/abuse history (5:06) The power in owning your trauma (11:16) Supporting our patients and using our power wisely (14:16) Screening for the different types of trauma (18:32) Vicarious trauma experiences (24:47) A call for systemic change (36:09) The definition of vicarious trauma and changing out expectations (41:45) Redefining what it means to be a “strong” clinician (46:43) Burnout, vicarious trauma, and moral injury (49:27) Brie's Lightning Round (62:43)  Thank you for listening to The Conscious Clinician. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and write a review for the podcast to grow our community. Keep the conversation going by following The Conscious Clinician on Instagram and Facebook.  Resources from Episode 9: Dr. Brie Robertori, PsyD Follow Dr. Brie Robertori, PsyD on LinkedIn The Conscious Clinician Instagram  The Conscious Clinician Facebook  Follow Dr. Sammy Steele on LinkedIn Follow Dr. Monika Stefanowicz on Instagram & LinkedIn

We are so excited to bring you this interview with Dr. Krystyna Holland, DPT!! She specializes in trauma-informed pelvic health practice for people across the gender identity spectrum. Her practice philosophy centers around intentionally minimizing our risk of perpetuating harm. We explore how this carries over into patient interactions including co-regulating, obtaining informed consent, and empowering patient autonomy. We also discuss the equally important need to self-reflect, self regulate and modify our workload so that we can do no harm because providing trauma-informed care is more than just being nice. Dr. Krystyna also sheds light on shame as a healthcare provider and how she's practicing trauma-informed principles in her personal life. This is a must-listen for anyone interested in practicing trauma-informed care! -- Dr. Krystyna Holland is a physical therapist in Denver, Colorado specializing in the provision of trauma-informed pelvic floor care to individuals across the gender identity spectrum. In addition to helping folks feel confident in their ability to live without leaking and have pleasurable sex, Krystyna aims to change the fundamental patient-provider relationship from one that centers the provider as a problem solver to one that focuses on collaboration between the patient and the provider. She works at: Inclusive Care: Her private practice in Lakewood, Co Denver Health Hospital Center: As part of a post-operative vaginoplasty team and an integrative pelvic health team  The Internet: As an Instagram educator (@krystyna.holland) and instructor of trauma-informed care webinars Show Notes Highlights from our conversation in Episode 8: Dr. Krystyna Holland on Trauma-Informed Pelvic Health Practice  Krystyna's intro and current projects (0:33) Krystyna's path into trauma-informed care (3:17) What is a traumatic experience and what is trauma-informed care? (5:33) How do you recognize a trauma response? (7:28) How can you respond to someone who is dissociating? (9:51) Obtaining truly informed consent (11:56) Nocebic language and fear-based marketing (20:55) Self-care when you're triggered and/or ashamed (24:46) Roots of medical trauma in white supremacy and patriarchy (29:58) Techniques to stay grounded in session (38:22) When to not push through “the suck” (41:24) Lightning Round (45:23) Thank you for listening to The Conscious Clinician. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and write a review for the podcast to grow our community. Keep the conversation going by following The Conscious Clinician on Instagram and Facebook.  Resources from Episode 8: Dr. Krystyna Holland on Trauma-Informed Pelvic Health Practice  Krystyna's trauma-informed webinars (1:41) Playbook for Painless Sex (2:15) The Body Keeps The Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma (6:47) Follow Dr. Krystyna Holland, DPT on Instagram @krystyna.holland The Conscious Clinician Instagram  The Conscious Clinician Facebook  Follow Dr. Sammy Steele LinkedIn Follow Dr. Monika Stefanowicz on Instagram & LinkedIn

In this episode, we explore resilience, professionally and personally. Well-being is a constant journey and resilience is like the health gauge of our coping skills at any given time. We each share examples of times we have been resilient and times we have struggled. Monika shares how her family upbringing affected her beliefs about work, rest, and vacation. Sammy shares how she thrived in graduate school for PT and how she can apply that to her life currently.  Each of us realized that when we are resilient, we've found a way to keep the essence of ourselves fueled and engaged in the midst of a challenge. This includes focusing on what we can control, shifting to an internal locus of control, and affecting change to reduce our load and/or increase our capacity. Monika shares her strategies for separating from work while working from home. We reference our Myers–Briggs personality types (ENFP and ISTJ) to share our strengths and pitfalls. We end with a discussion around creativity and resilience.  Highlights from our conversation in Episode 7 Defining resilience (1:30) Burnout: when your load exceeds your personal capacity (3:18) Patient resilience & locus of control (8:46)  Turning “off” when your job is knowledge-based work (13:30) Interpersonal/emotional aspects of healthcare work (16:01) Work from home boundaries (18:09) The struggle to shut work "off" (22:06) Chasing happiness by striving (30:00) Monika & Sammy's Myer's Briggs personality types & stress (34:05) Cultivating resilience through creativity (51:52) Thank you for listening to this episode of The Conscious Clinician. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and write a review for the podcast to grow our community. Keep the conversation going by following The Conscious Clinician on Instagram and Facebook.  Resources from Episode 7: Cultivating Resilience Myers Briggs Type Inventory (34:05, 36:28) Enneagram (34:05, 48:25) 16 Personalities Free Test (58:47) Follow The Conscious Clinician on Instagram  Follow The Conscious Clinician on Facebook  Follow Dr. Sammy Steele on Instagram & LinkedIn Follow Dr. Monika Stefanowicz on Instagram & LinkedIn

In this episode hosts Monika and Sammy hone in on history taking. The beauty of the subjective is that each question is planting a seed in the patient's mind. Sometimes we will harvest several sessions later, once the patient has had time to reflect. We can use questions to invite their curiosity, create an individualized blueprint for their care, and increase their engagement with treatment. We share our common pitfalls including:  Asking leading questions Making assumptions Asking vague questions And offer suggestions for each pitfall and additional tips for an insightful subjective assessment. Highlights from our conversation in Episode 6: History Taking Pearls & Pitfalls Common pitfall: leading questions (1:31) Starting the interview & what to listen for (5:12) Open-ended questions (9:24) Ask to prioritize and avoid assumptions (10:34) Planting seeds for reflection (15:06) Waiting for a response (17:08)  Creating a question funnel (20:08) Questions for understanding your patient's journey (22:37) Questions for goal setting (28:37) Using reflection/summarization statements (31:47) Top tips for history taking (33:58) Thank you for listening to this episode of The Conscious Clinician. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and write a review for the podcast to grow our community. Keep the conversation going by following The Conscious Clinician on Instagram and Facebook.  Resources from Episode 6: History Taking Pearls & Pitfalls Episode 3: Readiness to Change (15:21)  Follow The Conscious Clinician on Instagram  Follow The Conscious Clinician on Facebook  Follow Dr. Sammy Steele on Instagram & LinkedIn Follow Dr. Monika Stefanowicz on Instagram & LinkedIn

In this episode hosts Monika and Sammy examine pain catastrophizing through the lens of a patient, Sarah, who is experiencing vaginismus. Sammy shares how she came to realize that Sarah presented with significant catastrophizing, how this affected the plan of care, and what changes she made in her PT practice as a result. Monika and Sammy define catastrophizing, how it may show up in patients, and share practical tips for working with similar patients who exhibit moderate/high catastrophizing.   Highlights from our conversation in Episode X Case introduction: Sarah & vaginismus [0:33] What is pain catastrophizing? [6:01] How can you identify a patient who is catastrophizing? [10:07] Strategies for pelvic physical therapists [14:56] Sarah's AHA moment [23:30] Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in PT [25:06] Psychologically informed PT practice [39:22] Tips for building patient self-efficacy [44:31] Sarah's Case wrap up [52:51   Correction: in this episode, Monika referenced an article by Kieran O'Sullivan but incorrectly said Peter O'Sullivan.    Thank you for listening to this episode of The Conscious Clinician Podcast. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and write a review to grow our community!  Resources from Episode 5: Pain Catastrophizing  Pain Catastrophizing: A Critical Review (2010) Pain Catastrophizing Scale (APTA) Psychological factors in chronic pelvic pain in women: relevance and application of the fear-avoidance model of pain (2011) Do Romantic Partners' Responses to Entry Dyspareunia Affect Women's Experience of Pain? The Roles of Catastrophizing and Self-Efficacy (2013) Episode 4: The Fixer [12:32]  Episode 2: Mountain Analogy [12:37] Cognitive Functional Therapy for Disabling Nonspecific Chronic Low Back Pain: Multiple Cases (2015)  [27:00] Association of Pain Psychology Provider Finder [34:09] Psychologically Informed Practice for Management of Low Back Pain: Future Directions in Practice and Research (2011) [39:22] Follow The Conscious Clinician on Instagram  Follow The Conscious Clinician on Facebook  Follow Dr. Sammy Steele on Instagram & LinkedIn Follow Dr. Monika Stefanowicz on Instagram & LinkedIn

In this episode, hosts Monika & Sammy explore “The Fixer” role that providers take on. They describe how being The Fixer shows up in clinical practice, signs and symptoms, origins and benefits, and tips for transitioning into The Guide role.  Sammy describes it as “feeling like you need to be someone's hero [like] you need to be the one that solves all of their problems.” With this mentality, a provider must focus on how and what to change so that the patient improves. This is a great deal of pressure to perform. Instead, providers can shift into The Guide by asking “How can I support this person's change?” which centers the patient in their own healing.  At its core, helping somebody change is acknowledging their humanity. Acknowledging that they're an autonomous person, independent from what we may tell them to do. They have their own story, background, beliefs, and we can honor them as people by walking alongside them through their pain and/or rehabilitation.  Highlights from our conversation in Episode 4: The Fixer [2:29] Sammy's experience as The Fixer [6:13] Monika's experience as The Fixer [9:03] Blurring Boundaries [19:45] Signs and symptoms of “fix-it mode” [27:47] Possible origins of The Fixer [33:51] Becoming a Guide [37:54] Noticing when you are in fix-it mode  [43:07] Visualizations and grounding techniques for The Fixer [45:59] Final thoughts on changing  Thank you for listening to this episode of The Conscious Clinician. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and write a review for the podcast to grow our community. Keep the conversation going by following The Conscious Clinician on Instagram and Facebook.  Resources from Episode 4: The Fixer 28:34 - Burnout by Emily Nagoski and Amelia Nagoski  Follow The Conscious Clinician on Instagram  Follow The Conscious Clinician on Facebook  Follow Dr. Sammy Steele on Instagram & LinkedIn Follow Dr. Monika Stefanowicz on Instagram & LinkedIn

In this episode we break down the myth of “non-compliance”, introduce the Transtheoretical Model (i.e. stages of change), and provide practical strategies for working with patients at each stage. The “non-compliance” myth propagates a hierarchical relationship between the Provider / patient and doesn't take into account natural human ambivalence when it comes to change.  Instead, we've shifted to assessing all patients for their readiness to change. We briefly describe each stage from the Transtheoretical Model, how to listen for “stage talk”, and share our strategies for working with patients in each stage. We also explore common misconceptions when implementing this model in clinical practice. Our goal is to “meet people where they are”. We've found this improves our rapport, collaboration, and minimizes stress on both parties. In doing so, we may support patients moving to the next stage. However, change takes time and not everyone will end up in Action / Maintenance. With this understanding, we can reduce the shame that so commonly comes up with change and instead empower our patients to begin where they are.  Highlights from Episode 3: Readiness to Change [0:46] Non-compliance [5:03] Introducing Stages of Change  [6:34] Precontemplation Stage [8:25] Listening for “stage talk” [14:14] Biggest caveat to stages of change [15:25] Contemplation Stage [17:34] Preparation Stage [19:44] Action Stage [22:33] Relapse  [25:00] Empowering vs shaming change  Thank you for listening to this episode of The Conscious Clinician. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and write a review for the podcast to grow our community. Keep the conversation going by following The Conscious Clinician on Instagram and Facebook.  Resources from Episode 3 [6:19] Transtheoretical Model The Transtheoretical Model (Brief) The Transtheoretical Model (Long Version)  Transtheoretical Model of Health Behavioral Change: A Systematic Review (2019) Stages of Change Model for Participation in Physical Activity during Pregnancy (2013) Follow The Conscious Clinician on Instagram  Follow The Conscious Clinician on Facebook  Follow Dr. Sammy Steele on Instagram & LinkedIn Follow Dr. Monika Stefanowicz on Instagram & LinkedIn

Hosts Monika & Sammy break down the subliminal scripts and healthcare practices which set providers up to be the gatekeepers of wellness. In this medical model, “we are the gatekeepers of wellness” and patients must go through us to “receive” healing.  Using the mountain metaphor they redefine pelvic PT and patient roles. The healing journey is depicted as the “The Mountain.” Rather than dragging patients up the mountain, PTs are guides who walk the path alongside their patients, guiding them around common pitfalls, exploring new paths, and supporting the hiker (i.e. the patient) along their journey.  They share why the Mountain Metaphor is so powerful, from clarifying responsibilities/boundaries to reducing emotional exhaustion and increasing compassion in pelvic health PT. Neither of them were able to “unsee” this once they learned it and began changing their practice patterns.  Highlights of Episode 2: The Mountain Metaphor 0:00 - Intro 0:36 - Exposing the underlying subliminal script in healthcare 3:59 - The Mountain Metaphor  5:46 - Pitfall #1: Understanding the terrain  7:06 - Pitfall #2: Assessing patient readiness & psychosocial factors 9:19 - Assembling a team  12:09 - Each hiker is unique  15:44 - Reimagining PT plan of care  18:32 - Pitfall #3: Underdosing patients  20:41 - Hiker independence & wilderness training  23:20 - Dr. Monika shares how The Mountain Metaphor helps her  26:25 - Dr. Sammy shares how The Mountain Metaphor helps her  28:35 - Applying the metaphor to your practice    Thank you for listening to this episode of The Conscious Clinician. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and write a review for the podcast to grow our community.  Resources from Episode 2: Mountain Metaphor Follow The Conscious Clinician on Instagram  Follow The Conscious Clinician on Facebook  Follow Dr. Sammy Steele on Instagram & LinkedIn Follow Dr. Monika Stefanowicz on Instagram & LinkedIn

Hosts Dr. Monika Stefanowicz & Dr. Sammy Steele welcome us to The Conscious Clinician Podcast! Sammy introduces us to the origin story of the podcast when the pair worked closely together as mentee/mentor. Their vision for the podcast is “to help pelvic floor physical therapists create an enjoyable and sustainable practice through the lens of exploring relationships with patients/clients.”  Monika shares, “we think that relationships are at the very heart of healing.” However, most pelvic health therapists receive minimal training on the interpersonal aspects of patient care. These soft skills are essential in pelvic health, given the intimacy and complexity of the issues people present with. They hope to shed light on burnout, resilience, and a paradigm shift that encompasses psychologically informed care.  Next, each host highlights the experiences which led to this change in perspective.  Dr. Sammy Steele, DPT is a pelvic health physical therapist practicing in an outpatient clinic in Davis, CA. She graduated from UC San Francisco and San Francisco state in 2019 with her DPT. She describes feeling burned out and emotionally exhausted with pelvic health during her first year of clinical practice. At the time, she had 1:1 mentoring with Dr. Monika for a trimester as part of the Agile Women's Health Physical Therapy program. Sammy opened up about her experiences and the two embarked on an exploration of relationships between provider/patient. They focused on professional boundaries, processing emotions, examining biases, and challenging assumptions. These tools helped Sammy embrace a new paradigm of patient care and become more resilient in her work. She's excited that “this podcast is addressing a missing link in what we do, and hopefully providing a space that's sacred for people to explore these topics.” Dr. Monika Stefanowicz, DPT, WCS is a pelvic health physical therapist practicing exclusively telehealth out of Austin, TX. She graduated from Springfield College in 2013 with her Bachelor's and again in 2015 with her DPT. She describes similar feelings of burnout during her residency at Brooks Rehabilitation in 2016/2017. “I didn't realize reliving people's trauma with them was affecting my well being because I thought it was the stress of residency.” This connection dawned on her while working with a personal relationship coach. As she studied codependency and healthy relationships, she began changing the way she practiced. Mentoring Sammy accelerated these changes “10X” as she was able to observe the relationships between PT and patient.  Both of them felt compelled to create a sacred space for pelvic health providers to start and explore the interpersonal and spiritual aspects of care. And so The Conscious Clinician Podcast was born! At the same time, they are clear on the scope of this podcast: “We are not trying to become psychologists. We want to bring psychology into pelvic health because the mind, body, [spirit] connection is so strong.”  They end with a lighthearted lightning round of questions for each other. Tune in to find out their favorite drinks, books, alternate career options, and definitions of a Conscious Clinician. Highlights from our conversation in Episode 1: Welcome Conscious Clinicians! 0:00 - Podcast Intro  0:33 - Welcome & The Conscious Clinician backstory 1:50 - Their vision for the podcast  3:57 - Dr. Sammy's background story 7:16 - Dr. Monika's background story  11:40 - Podcast values and professional boundaries 14:10 - Sammy's lightning round of Q&A  16:38 - Monika's lightning round of Q&A Thank you for listening to this episode of The Conscious Clinician. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and write a review for the podcast to grow our community.  Resources from Episode 1: Welcome Conscious Clinicians! Follow The Conscious Clinician on Instagram  Follow The Conscious Clinician on Facebook  Follow Dr. Sammy Steele on Instagram & LinkedIn Follow Dr. Monika Stefanowicz on Instagram & LinkedIn