Wellness Coaching
January 28, 2010
Recently, the Boston Globe, published an article about Wellness Coaching.
Basically, the article talks about patients who need help with the emotional side of a disease. There certainly is a need for this kind of work. I am painfully aware of it because my wife is a psychologist who deals with injured patients who will have to spend the rest of their lives dealing with chronic pain.
But I have a few issues with the article.
If you get wellness coaching from a program sponsored by the hospital–how do you know the coach isn’t more interested in the well-being of the medical institution than the patient?
And by the way, why wouldn’t helping someone deal with the emotional impact of a terrible disease or injury, be a normal part of the healing process–shouldn’t the doctor who is treating the patient take some responsibility for this. No, because the medical schools just teach technical skill and dealing with the emotional consequences is not part of the course work – too touchy feeley— takes too long–no money to be made there.
Unfortunately there is a connection between the psyche and healing – but don’t try to tell a surgeon that.
As you may have noticed this is a particularly sore subject because we see so many patients who are abandoned by their doctors when the surgeon can’t do any more and the patient is still in debilitating pain.
Wellness Coaching that also involves healthier lifestyles (stress management, food consumption, exercise) as well as emotional support, is certainly needed, but it needs to start sooner in the recovery process and its focus should be on a holistic approach.
Choosing a path
January 27, 2010
Went to dinner last night at a local deli with an identity problem. The restaurant has been in business for many years and was bought 15 years ago by a couple who have decided to move from traditional deli fare, to a business featuring local, sustainable and more upscale food concepts.
Problem is, the long-time patrons have been complaining that piled-high corned beef sandwiches, while they are still on the menu, have been cut down to size to be more sustainable. In addition local cucumbers to pickle are not available year-round here in Northern California.
What’s a restaurant to do? Well in Berkeley you schedule a forum with some well know foodies – headlined by Michael Pollan – and ask everyone what they think should happen.
I’m not sure what will happen but you can decide for yourself February 9th if you’re in the area.
Bedside books
If you’re like me you have a stack of unread books next to your bed. I never get to them because I take the newspaper with me and catch up before I head off to dreamland.
How much nicer would it be if my nightstand was clear except for a new new iPad which had all the books and the newspaper in one place. I know the Kindle could do the same thing but without the color and graphics. Watch for me in line when they go on sale next month.
It’s all relative-a lesson from the beach
Our neighbors in Hawaii are regulars at the local beach, so they know the water well. Recently, I joined them and remarked at how clear and calm the local bay looked. ‘Oh no,’ she said in horror, “the water is murky and look at the waves on the rocks over there.”
How could two people see the same scene and come up with such different conclusions. Easy, she lives on the island and has often seen the water crystal clear down to 10 feet and the surface looking like a large plate of glass. On the other hand, I just visit and often saw heavy surf churning up sand to leave the water cloudy even near the surface.
In life and management it’s not the observation that’s important but the frame of reference. Neither of us were wrong we were just applying different standards – a frequent problem when an employee and employer look at the same situation.
Greetings to all my friends to be
January 26, 2010
Hello world, or probably more properly hello again, since I spent 20 years writing for newspapers. Now in my 6-year career as an executive and personal coach I’ve had plenty of time to think of new things to say and new interests to explore.
This blog is designed for several audiences.
New managers who’ve been promoted after careers as line employees and don’t have a clue how to ‘manage’ people who were their co-workers days before and veteran managers who never really got any training before they got their jobs.
In addition I’ll ask you to put up with a few of my hobbies- gardening, wine and travel (mainly to Hawaii at this point) – and any other other topics that seem relevant.
So, thanks in advance for your attention and I look forward to your comments.