Episode #86: Helping Healthcare Heroes Heal from the Trauma of the Pandemic featuring Dr. Mark Goulston and Dr. Diana Hendel

Episode #86: Helping Healthcare Heroes Heal from the Trauma of the Pandemic featuring Dr. Mark Goulston and Dr. Diana Hendel

Introduction to the Episode:  

In this episode we talk with co-authors, Dr. Mark Goulston and Dr. Diana Hendel, about their book Why Cope When You Can Heal?  How Healthcare Heroes of COVID-19 Can Recover from PTSD

Mark shares the inspiration for the title came from his conversations with individuals who had experienced trauma but hadn’t gotten over the experience, they had only coped with it and hadn’t really healed.  

In their book, Mark and Diana paint the picture of the “perfect storm for trauma” that is being experienced by healthcare workers today.  

In the interview Diana shares her perspective that healthcare workers are the grittiest, toughest, most resilient people in our society.   But we are living in the downside of our societal “just get over it” culture and aren’t giving equal attention to the processing which is essential for healing.   

We discuss why it’s important to bear witness to this moment in history and to not “rush past the tragedies that have been experienced.”  Diana describes the numerous experiences healthcare workers have had during the pandemic that have contributed to the experience of moral injury and traumatic stress. 

Mark and Diana also share their perspectives on the pending serious mental health and PTSD crisis that is inevitable in the healthcare system.   

Mark is the developer of the 12 Phase Emotional Algorithm and the Surgical Empathy method, which he describes and shares how they work.  He gives an excellent approach and antidote to use when you ask someone how they are and they respond, “I’m fine”.  

At the close of the interview Diana shares some words of wisdom for healthcare leaders regarding what is and will be required by leaders during these traumatic times.   

This is an interview jam packed with priceless information for anyone who is working in healthcare today.  Stop what you are doing and listen now! 

 

During this episode we discuss:

·         “Just get over it” culture

·         The “Moving on”/Progress AND Process polarity

·         “Never forget” there are heroes who are hurting

·         Moral injury

·         Potential aftershocks of the pandemic

·         Pandemic impact on individuals and the organizations

·         Impact on leaders sending clinicians into danger

·         Being shattered and intact

·         Difference between recovery and healing

·         Power of expressing and feeling emotions at the same time

·         Needing help but not wanting it

·         Leadership during crisis-connect, create, and communicate

Best way to Reach Mark and Diana: 

Website:  Why Cope When You Can Heal 

Link to book: Why Cope When You Can Heal? 

Newest book:  Trauma to Triumph: A Roadmap for Leading Through Disruption (and Thriving on the Other Side)

To get our FREE perspective paper, The Three Biggest Mistakes Healthcare Leaders Make When Trying to Achieve Work Life Balance  Click Here now!

 

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Tracy Christopherson