KCAFP members were welcome to join a weekly Provider Well-Being Sessions facilitated by Dr. Joe Sherman on Thursdays during the months of June and July in 2020.  In addition, Dr. Sherman provided the general membership with articles and video recordings focused on provider well-being in response to the many changes 2020 brought to our various organizations and lives. Below is an archive of the materials produced for the KCAFP along with additional resources and suggestions you are invited to explore as needed.

ARTICLES From
​Dr. Sherman

Short Well-Being Videos
“I think physicians in all stages of their career can benefit from the opportunity to step back and remember why they love this important work, and I'm really glad that I connected with Joe when I did!”
 
-Corey Dickenson, Family Practitioner, Country Doctor Health Center, Seattle WA

​R—Recognize What’s Going On
  • Recognizing means consciously acknowledging, in any given moment, the thoughts, feelings, and behaviors that are affecting you. This can be a done with a simple mental whisper, noting what you are most aware of.

A—Allow the Experience to be There, Just as It Is
  • Allowing means letting the thoughts, emotions, feelings, or sensations you have recognized simply be there, without trying to fix or avoid anything.
  • You might recognize fear and allow by mentally whispering “it’s ok” or “this belongs” or “yes.”
  • Allowing creates a pause that makes it possible to deepen attention.

I—Investigate with Interest and Care
  • To investigate, call on your natural curiosity—the desire to know truth—and direct a more focused attention to your present experience.
  • You might ask yourself: What most wants attention? How am I experiencing this in my body? What am I believing? What does this vulnerable place want from me? What does it most need?
  • Whatever the inquiry, your investigation will be most transformational if you step away from conceptualizing and bring your primary attention to the felt-sense in the body.

N—Nurture with Self-Compassion
  • Self-compassion begins to naturally arise in the moments that you recognize you are suffering. It comes into fullness as you intentionally nurture your inner life with self-care.
  • To do this, try to sense what the wounded, frightened or hurting place inside you most needs, and then offer some gesture of active care that might address this need. Does it need a message of reassurance? Of forgiveness? Of companionship? Of love?
  • Experiment and see which intentional gesture of kindness most helps to comfort, soften or open your heart. It might be the mental whisper, I’m here with you. I’m sorry, and I love you. I love you, and I’m listening. It’s not your fault. Trust in your goodness.
  • In addition to a whispered message of care, many people find healing by gently placing a hand on the heart or cheek; or by envisioning being bathed in or embraced by warm, radiant light. If it feels difficult to offer yourself love, bring to mind a loving being—spiritual figure, family member, friend or pet—and imagine that being’s love and wisdom flowing into you.
“I gained more confidence in myself as a physician/healer with clarification of what I truly value and how to make more time for those things.”
 
 – Christina Pease MD, General Pediatrician, SeaMar Community Health Center, Seattle WA
You'll find additional links to videos, articles, and resources that you might find helpful around provider-well being. If you have any questions about KCAFP's past efforts on provider well-being you're welcome to email [email protected].