You Matter

I approached Charli when I noticed that, as well as being a clinician, she is also a celebrant. What I didn't know is that she is also a wine expert, a gay, autistic woman with ADHD who is in the middle of a phd looking at the effect of rubber pitch services on injury in male rugby players. And we cover all of that in this epsiode!

Siobhan Cowling talks to me about what led her to leave Physiotherapy, coping with the transition, what she misses about work, the negatives, 'Who am I?' and the positives, the tips and tricks she's learned along the way. Siobhan says she still hasn't become comfortable with the R word, but she's found a great alternative and is loving her refirement!

In my ignorance, when Felicity suggested this topic I thought 'that'll be interesting, but I wonder how much being diabetic affects identity.' As a result of this conversation, I am humbled and now fully educated as to the extent of monitoring, tweaking and managing this condition requires, and also the effect on Felicity's view of herself as a professional. At one point, in the interests of being human and illustrating that it's okay to have needs as a clinician, Felicity goes off to inject herself with insulin, and I have a wee!

This is the second in a 2-part series with Karli Gibson, a physiotherapist with diagnoses of ADHD and dyslexia. Having described the struggles and the suffering as she puts it, in epsiode 1, this time Karli focuses on the solutions she has found and the evolution this has afforded her both as a person and a physiotherapist. We also discuss how, as employers and heads of organisations where people with neurodiversity are working (ie all of us) we can help make those environments easier places to navigate for all. Many of us are probably scared of getting things wrong, or not sure how to get it right. Karli's overriding message is to stay curious.

Nicola Graham and Helen Preston are both Physiotherapy business owners. They each have their own version of this, having made choices about whether or not to still work as a clinician, and how they wish to be perceived, and how they wish to exert their influence in healthcare. In this session we discuss, the acquisition of business skills when you've never been taught them, a shift in personal identity and the way others might see you as you take on business ownership, and we have a more philosophical discussion around leadership and who might emerge as the future symbolic leaders in our profession.

Some people love conflict. Some of them are even clinicians. This epsiode is for the remaining 97% of you who accept it's a necessary evil but would rather eat their own patella hammer. Celia Champion, director of Painless Practice has a wealth of tips, tricks, books and references to help you get more comfortable with conflict. And she is human enough to admit that even she is only a 3/10 on the concept.

Workshop link

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/695867968827?aff=oddtdtcreator Books and theories mentioned:

Surrounded by idiots by Thomas Erickson

SCARF model by David Rock

Radical Candour theory by Kim Scott

How do I know if I'm an introvert? Is there a perceived moralty around introversion/extroversion? Is extrovert bias at play in Healthcare? What do introverted clincians and indeed introverted clients need in order to flourish? Want to go deeper? This conversation with Joanna is the perfect introduction to a week, from 15th-19th May where my Mehub facebook group activity will be devoted to The Quiet Clinician. Come an join the quiet ones with lots to say. https://www.facebook.com/groups/mehub

In the light of emerging science Jo discusses, how to bring patients with us, without compromising therapeutic alliance? How receiving touch might for some people be part of being heard and understood? Hands as the way in, to a space for a discussion about what might be working, or not and why and Anna Maria asks me to make her some curtains!

Of course we're perfectionists. We learn what is 'correct' and then we try to function in the world of messy, unpredictable humans who throw curve balls every half hour!  

Perfectionism isn't just about having high standards. It's when you pin your self-worth to the attainment of those standards. 

When we decide something within us is unnacceptable, it becomes abhorent in others and we exercise judgement.  

Until we are prepared to look at the external environment of capitalism, consumerism, social media comparison, perfectionism will continue to thrive within us and between us

We're nearing the end of another year and I'm resisting the temptation to 'keep on pushing to the end'. Instead this, episode is a gathering up, a summary and reflection on the wisdom of my wonderful guests in 2022.

Jo chats with eternally curious, insightful and humble Joanne Elphinston about her recent article "Changing the conversation:an embodied coaching approach in the clinical session"

We discuss,

- how the conventional therapist-patient power dynamic might be depleting your energy reserves

-  the benefits of loosening our grip on the "expert fixer" identity

- the gulf between informing and educating for meaningful learning

-  cognitively based teaching vs a sensory experience for real patient engagement

- how genuine partnership with your patient doesn't mean withholding expertise

Following the “Brilliant Women” episode in May 2021, I invited a panel of men this time to share their thoughts about what it feels like to be a male clinician today. What pressures do you feel in terms of career path? How welcome is male vulnerability? And is psychological safety financially viable?

Don't forget to head to mehab.co.uk for more from Jo Turner

Martin is a Physiotherapist best known for hilarious one-liners, beer drinking, and his brave sharing of clincal failures. He is also suffers with lomg term depression.  In this episode, Martin talks candidly about his experience of depression, what it means in his daily life, and as a clincian. He talks about the postive aspects of empathy, shares insights into how we might alter our approach for patients sufferfing with depression, and gives us his insights into how we might improve our systems and communication style for the benefit of our colleagues, our patients and ourselves.

Dr Susanna Petche is an A&E GP who specialises in the management of trauma. In this epsiode I have the chance to ask Susanna all the questions about trauma that I felt silly asking. She is truly an expert in this field and I get goose bunps when I hear about her mission to ensure we are all better trauma informed as health professioanals, parents, friends and humans.

I describe Katie as a health advocate, a champion for patients. Katie wants good quality care and advice available to all, and she wants people to be excited about what they'll receive from physio. 

In this episode, we discuss how Katie has developed Physio Fast Online, a video based consultancy as a means to deliver on these aims. Classically understated, do not underestimate Katie. She's up to some pretty impressive things.

How comfortable are you asking for help to support your mental health/wellbeing at work? And if you ask, is help forthcoming?  

If you are are manager, business owner or colleague being asked for help, what resources and systems are in place to provide that kind of support?

In this episode I talk to Susie Martin about her own experiences of asking for help at work and moving away from a 'stiff upper lip' culture. We also discuss the use of the Mind Wellness Action Plan at work.

In this episode, I pick apart the use of banter in our professional spheres. Alistair and I share our personal experiences and viewpoints around banter. We chat about the pros and cons of this style of communication, both as a pressure release tool and a means for establishing rapport, but also as an elitist form of communication that could be seen to exclude and alienate.

This is a follow-up session to cover all the questions we didn't get to at Therapy Live. Burnout is not a new problem in healthcare but it has new significance this year. We discuss The relationship between burnout, anxiety and depression Over-working in a job you love Being the one to stand up and say this is not okay Small but significant ways to help yourself and others who may be suffering stages of burnout How to be part of changing deeply entrenched patterns in healthcare culture

Jo Gibson was kind enough to talk to me about everything except shoulders and to allow me a glimpse of the woman behind the stellar career. Her last minute decision to be a physiotherapist and a stern word form the principal. Pivotal career moments and lessons learned Initiation by shame and eventual acceptance by the medics Developing her own gentler leadership style Learning to cope with success  And planning to slow down.......maybe!

In this episode, I interview Margaret Collins, researcher, senior lecturer, expert on imposter syndrome. Margaret admits this expertise comes partly from years of personal experience, but also from learning how to manage it. I talk to Margaret about the documented high prevalence of imposter syndrome amongst health professionals and how we might tackle this on both a personal and organisational level.

In this episode, Jo discusses the concept of professional identity with Adam Harrison who has, at various times been a Doctor, Lawyer and now Coach. They talk about commonly perceived identities of doctors and other health professionals, the possible differences between your work and home persona, and whether professional identity has any impact on our well-being and sense of fulfilment.

In this episode Jo Turner sets the scene for what you can expect from the You Matter Podcast and kicks off with Jack Chew as her first guest. In-line with her intention for open, honest and if required, uncomfortable conversation, Jack and Jo dig a bit deeper into some areas of healthcare delivery where they suspect they might have some difference of opinion.

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