Physician Burnout - Courses start Sep/Oct, Tips, Resources |
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Dear friends & colleagues, This month's newsletter includes details about upcoming courses, free sessions, resources, & tips to reduce burnout. If you, your patients, colleagues, or team are suffering from burnout and are looking for support, an organized plan, and effective strategies then register now for the RECHARGE to Prevent or Overcome Burnout 8-week live interactive series. Space is limited and early bird pricing is in effect until Sep 6, 2021. (Compassionate fee reduction is available while spaces last, enquire for details.) Learn more further below. If you want to learn how to relax, be more mindful in everyday life, develop your own meditation practice, and experience the many benefits of "yogic sleep" (Yoga Nidra) there is still time to register for the monthly Finding Stillness series starting September 13th. Early bird pricing is available until September 1st. (Space is limited, compassionate fee reduction available.) These online series are ideal for those wanting support and strategies for themselves, or who want to learn how to support their staff, colleagues, and patients. If you have questions or want to reserve space for your staff, email marcia@drkostenuik.com As promised, this month I am sharing more Tips to Prevent Burnout. Read further below to find some practical steps you can start taking today, as well as free sessions on burnout, parenting, stress reduction, mindfulness, meditation, and Yoga Nidra. Why Courses & Coaching? For years I have been helping physicians recover from burnout, regain their passion for life, and find enjoyment in their relationships. Since the pandemic began physicians have been reaching out to me not only for psychotherapy, but for coaching in mindfulness, meditation, parenting, leadership, relationships, and work-life balance. Not everybody wants or needs therapy - some are looking for support, skills, strategies, encouragement, honest feedback, accountability, and personal growth. In order to respond to the recent increase in demand I have created programs to teach the same effective skills that I have been sharing with individual doctors over the years but now in a group learning environment. This is an effective, enjoyable, and affordable way for physicians to gain some of the same benefits and skills they would learn through individual support. In addition, physician feedback has been that they enjoy connecting with and learning from their peers and knowing they are not alone. Other ways I have been responding to the increased demands are through speaking at conferences, teaching medical residents, and providing individual and group peer support to physicians. I am pleased to continue supporting physicians and their partners with the Canadian Medical Association's Wellness Connection peer support program where I offer group sessions on burnout, parenting, and stress reduction. I am also offering support with the Ontario College of Family Physicians' Practising Well program as a peer guide (connect here) and speaker panelist (see upcoming CME sessions) to help educate physicians with the skills they need to support their patients with mental health concerns. While I continue to provide psychotherapy and coaching to individual physicians I also enjoy developing and delivering ongoing interactive online courses, such as the Mindful Parenting Course for Physicians which ran in 2020 and again in 2021 with doctors across the country. Along with increasing capacity, these courses have also created a fun, effective, and interactive format for colleagues to connect, share, and learn new skills. Physician feedback has been that these courses have helped them be better able to help themselves, their patients, their children, and their relationships. I'm looking forward to connecting with those of you who have already registered for the RECHARGE to Prevent or Overcome Burnout course and Finding Stillness series and I invite you to share this resource/email with colleagues and staff who might be interested. Together we can reduce burnout and change the medical culture for the better! Upcoming Free Sessions Mindfulness, Meditation, Yoga Nidra with Dr. K. Details/register: Sep 8, 1-2pmET Hosted by Dr. Kostenuik Live Interactive Zoom (No fee. All are welcome, space is limited.) For Canadian Physicians: Overcoming Burnout: Aug 26, 12-1pmET (registration open) Sep 21, 12-1pmET* Oct 12, 12-1pmET* Mindful Parenting: Sep 16, 12-1pmET* Oct 12, 12-1pmET* Stress Reduction Practices: Sep 30, 12-1pmET* Oct 28, 12-1pmET* These sessions are open to Canadian physicians and medical learners Sponsored by CMA, facilitated by Dr. Marcia Kostenuik (*dates to be added to calendar soon, check back if not populated) |
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MORE TIPS TO PREVENT BURNOUT Here are some more tips and pearls from the live talks I have been giving on burnout. I hope there is a practical action item here for you! These are also some of the steps in the RECHARGE to Prevent or Overcome Burnout series. Last month I expanded on the first 3 of 10 tips, this month I will focus on tips 4-7. Remember, you first need to accurately recognize the symptoms, identify your particular individual risk factors (including personality traits), and uncover specific contributing system issues. If you skip these steps you will only be covering up the deeper causes and this can lead to recurrent episodes of burnout or worse. Feel free to email me if you missed last month's tips, or if you want more information about the courses or individual coaching. 1. Recognize the symptoms 2. Get rest 3. Manage your energy 4. Connect with friends outside of work 5. Have a hobby you enjoy at least once a week 6. Get active, move your body (e.g. walking, yoga, sports) 7. Schedule fun activities regularly in your calendar 8. Renew your mind and body with nurturing activities 9. Invest in your personal growth 10. Consider new perspectives, opportunities, and attitudes Connecting with friends outside of work will help you gain critical perspective which is especially important if you are suffering from burnout. Physicians, health care workers, and workers who are immersed in the same field don't often realize they are sharing and modeling the same unhealthy work and personal habits (e.g. not taking breaks, not eating healthy snacks, not getting enough sleep, not able to say 'no'). There can become a culture of overworking, lack of healthy limits, exhaustion, and even martyrdom that perpetuates the very behaviours that lead to burnout. Try connecting with friends from other parts of your life, from your childhood, from school, or with friends who share your hobbies and outside interests. Meeting new friends can also be great! Connecting with those outside of your workplace will also help you gain perspective on unhealthy habits, unwritten rules, and harmful behaviours that have become "normal" in your workplace. Friends from outside may ask critical questions, provide constructive feedback, and share ideas from their own perspectives. Together you may be able to support each other and even find solutions. I have found that having a hobby outside of work and medicine is a "must" in overcoming burnout. Taking a keen interest in a sport, art, music, craft, or other hobby or activity helps keep your mind off of work (as well as parenting, relationships, and stressors) and gives you something fun, interesting, and challenging to focus on. Without a hobby to capture your interest and attention, your mind is left wandering back to your "to-do" list, your worries, or replaying work scenarios or other stressors. Personally, I have been enjoying getting back into golf, paddle boarding, and learning about self-care practices. Working on my golf swing keeps my mind occupied on something new, challenging, and enjoyable (email me if you have a tip on how to quickly fix a "push" shot!). My hobbies also get me outdoors, active, socializing, and spending time with loved ones. Take a moment right now to schedule a weekly time slot for an old or new hobby. If it helps, join a group, sign up for a course, ask a friend to join you. Just do it! This leads right into the idea of getting active. Behaviour activation is a strategy that can help you quickly feel better physically, mentally, and emotionally. I encourage my patients and clients to schedule the activities into their weekly and monthly calendars. Why? Because if it's on the calendar it is more likely to happen. This also ensures that you keep these activities a priority. Try to have at least one activity that gets your muscles working and your heart pumping. Walking outdoors or on a treadmill, or having a home exercise program are readily accessible options. There are many affordable or free exercise programs and yoga classes available online. Social activities could be a weekly "call a friend" time slot on Saturday mornings or monthly coffee with a colleague or family member. Get creative. Get moving. Get scheduling. Put recurring weekly or monthly reminders in your calendar to be sure that you keep the habit up, and adapt as needed (many of my phone reminders have continued "alerting" me during Covid but I have had to adapt the activities). If you aren't sure what to do, look up "fun activities" or "pleasurable activities" on your search engine. You can also find "behaviour activation charts" online to help you stay organized and follow through. I will repeat again this month that many of the causes of burnout relate to system issues and take time to change. In the meantime, I like to empower individuals to take some immediate actions to get off the path to burnout and into a more enjoyable and sustainable life. If you would like to learn more about preventing or overcoming burnout in yourself, your colleagues, staff, or patients, sign up for the 8-week RECHARGE to Prevent or Overcome Burnout online interactive series, space is limited. If you are interested in individual coaching to help you succeed you can schedule a free call or get more information by emailing me at marcia@drkostenuik.com. There are solutions that can get you back on track and enjoying your life. |
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Currently Available Courses/Series: RECHARGE to Prevent or Overcome Burnout 8-Week Interactive Online Series Oct 20 - Dec 8, 2021 Wednesdays 1-2:30pmET (10-11:30amPT) + Q&A Includes 16 hours of live interactive session time, plus videos & handouts Fee: $800 (early bird $650 until Sep 6, 2021) This 8-week online interactive series includes a practical action plan to help get you off the path to burnout by better understanding its roots. You will receive weekly support as you recover and build sustainable habits for a more enjoyable and fulfilling life. Emerge renewed with powerful skills and a new outlook. Get support, interact with peers and create a new beginning. Space is limited. Register now: click here for details & registration info or email marcia@drkostenuik.com (*Video recordings & written handouts will be made available for any missed sessions) Finding Stillness Mindfulness, Meditation, Yoga Nidra ("yogic sleep") 10 monthly interactive sessions Sep 13, 2021 - Jun 13, 2022 2nd Monday ea. month 8-9pmET (5-6pmPT) + Q&A Includes over 10 hours of live session time, plus videos/recordings Fee: $250 (early bird $225 until Sep 1, 2021) Each month enjoy guided practices that invite deep relaxation and ease tension, stress and the emotional and physical exhaustion that can accompany burnout. Connect with peers, get support, and learn how to use - or deepen your practice of - mindfulness & meditation to improve your quality of life. > Learn to use attitudes of mindfulness in everyday life > Find & practice a meditation style that suit you personally > Experience "yogic sleep" (Yoga Nidra) for deep relaxation In this series, you will learn new and effective ways of understanding and approaching challenges in your life. You will get first-hand experience practicing a variety of meditation styles that can fit easily into your daily and weekly routines. In addition, you will be guided in the practice of Yoga Nidra which can improve nighttime sleep, reduce insomnia, and resolve longstanding patterns of stress. Participants report that the practice is deeply relaxing, renewing, and energizing - and in some cases, a 10-20 minute practice feels equivalent to several hours of refreshing sleep. Busy schedule? No time? The once-monthly evening sessions fit more easily into most schedules and still allow you the opportunity to reduce stress and recharge from burnout. Committing to a 10-month series helps ensure you will stay on track and get support and guidance. along the way. Space is limited. Register now: click for details & registration info or email marcia@drkostenuik.com |
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Testimonials Testimonials and feedback from physician participants of Dr. Kostenuik’s coaching and online sessions/courses: Thank you so much for all your help; your attitude and suggestions were extremely precious and played a huge part in our balance! Thank you for inviting Dr Kostenuik to give us the presentation yesterday. The topic is so timely, and she is such an engaging speaker. I wish I heard the talk many years ago, that may well have prevented my burnout. It will be nice to have her back for another enlightening session. Within two sessions, we had acquired so much knowledge and insight..She was professional, knowledgeable and just got it. After listening to us, she was full of personalized suggestions that proved to be right in tune...We are so grateful for her insights and approach and consider ourselves lucky to have found her and worked with her...I have no doubt we will seek her guidance out again. Thank you so very much Marcia! Dr Kostenuik’s mindful parenting course has been helpful on so many levels…Her simple approach, with practical tools, has helped on the personal level but also with all my human interactions. I have seen results in a very short period of time and I highly recommend her course! |
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Burnout Resources On this resource page, I have gathered helpful resources and articles to help get you off the path to burnout. You will find a link to a questionnaire to help you determine your own level of burnout, as well as tips and tools to help you on the road to recovery. |
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IS COACHING RIGHT FOR YOU? Personal coaching focuses on helping you take action towards your goals and provides the structure, skills, support, and honest feedback needed to help you achieve results. Over the years it has been my experience that physicians like to work with a professional who understands their struggles, challenges, strengths, and goals. Many physicians are wanting professional confidential support from another physician who understands them and can help them reach their vision. It is incredibly rewarding to see clients overcome previous obstacles, use their talents and abilities effectively, and achieve personal growth. Your coaching goals may include: -preventing burnout -improving life/work balance -enhancing parenting skills -adjusting to a transition -starting a new career or life chapter -cultivating leadership skills -gaining interpersonal, communication, and social skills to improve personal and work relationships -building a mindfulness and meditation practice Your coaching goals are personal to you and are addressed individually to help you achieve the most effective results in the shortest time. In some cases, the desired goals are achieved in as few as two sessions, however, for others, a longer coaching relationship may be helpful and supportive of their needs and plans. If you are interested in personal coaching you can email marcia@drkostenuik.com to book a free phone call or to ask for details. For testimonials see further below. |
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There are many free resources for meditation, mindfulness, parenting, burnout and more at drkostenuik.com |
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To book a speaking engagement or interactive group session for your group contact marcia@drkostenuik.com |
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BRIEF BIO Dr. Marcia Kostenuik MD CCFP BSc is a physician, teacher, speaker and personal coach. As a medical psychotherapist and a former emergency room physician she brings a practical approach to wellness and mental health. She created Psychological First Aid Tools for COVID-19, facilitates peer support groups for the Canadian Medical Association, and is a peer guide in mental health for the Ontario College of Family Physicians. Her current clinical practice involves treating physicians suffering from burnout, post-traumatic stress, anxiety, and interpersonal difficulties. Her academic work includes teaching psychotherapy and practice management skills to medical residents. Dr. Kostenuik created and teaches online courses and series in mindfulness, meditation, parenting, stress reduction, and burnout prevention. She speaks to organizations about wellness and provides coaching in interpersonal and communication skills. She has been awarded the Daniel Glazier Award by the College of Family Physicians of Canada for her work in mental health and suicide prevention and is a member of the board of directors of the Medical Psychotherapy Association of Canada. Marcia is also a wife, a mother of two, enjoys spending time with her dogs, and is a registered yoga instructor. For more information: drkostenuik.com or MDstressreduction.com. Contact: marcia@drkostenuik.com |
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