How Life Coaching Can Help Doctors

Posted on September 12, 2021 by Dr Clara Teo, One of Thousands of Life Coaches on Noomii.

As a former junior doctor, I understand the challenges and hardships we face on a daily basis. Dealing with the long working hours, demanding bosses and managing the welfare of our patients in a high stress environment can have a devastating impact on our wellbeing. Needless to say, during the pandemic, many doctors are feeling burnt out.

As a doctor-turned-life-coach, I help junior doctors go from feeling burnt out and unmotivated to finding opportunities to attain a good work life balance, so that they can feel happier and more fulfilled! The reason why I am so passionate about this work is because I believe that junior doctors in Malaysia deserve better treatment – physically, mentally and emotionally!

After passing our final medical exam, we imagined how wonderful our lives would be as doctors. We would be saving lives, gaining respect from our friends, family, relatives and society. You tell yourself, “WOAH! I AM NOW A DOCTOR!”. However, in life, our journey often takes unexpected turns.

Doctors are schooled to be best and the brightest, the crème dela crème. That does not mean that doctors do not face challenges. Some of the common themes are:

• Junior doctors (especially housemen), remain at the bottom of the food chain. They struggle with how to influence people who are of higher rank, often times ending up feeling helpless.
• Doctors often know what they do not want, not what they want.
• A hectic lifestyle that often leads to burnt out

The common themes that are faced by Malaysian contract Junior Doctors are:

• Unequal postgraduate opportunities
• Unequal leaves
• No proper pay rise
• More work, less pay
• Possibility of losing their jobs after the contract ends
• No ideal options to resign from government hospitals
• Feeling under-appreciated

When life doesn’t pan out the way we thought it would, it leaves us feeling confused, fearful and maybe angry. These feelings can fester in us and impact our wellbeing.

Given the circumstances that contract doctors are facing, it’s no wonder many of us are feeling unmotivated at work. Going to work often times feel more like an obligation or chore. Some of us are even thinking about quitting but are afraid of the consequences. There are also many of us who have the desire to continue serving in this profession but the unfair treatment of junior doctors have left us feeling stuck and helpless.

Long story short: We feel burnt out and unsupported but we don’t have an ideal option to leave.

What if you can be un-stuck?
What if you have a choice not to feel that way?
What would happen if those thoughts and feelings didn’t get in the way?
What if you could gain the work life balance that you desire?
What if you have an opportunity to live your best life regardless of your circumstances?
What if you can have more time for family, health and FUN?

My mission as a life coach is to help people uncover the best version of themselves. Through an individually curated program, I seek to help them break through barriers, achieve their goals and ultimately, live a life that is true to them.

Life coaching helps you move out of victim-mentality to take actions that can ensure your personal success. Life coaching provides the space for you to examine what is it that you really want. We will explore your values, motivations and dreams in a non-judgmental and confidential environment. You will be able to gain clarity and confidence to create the live of your dreams!

I believe you are the creator of your own reality and you can create the live you desire. Right now, you have the opportunity to do so through the power of life coaching. I believe that each and every one of my clients’ have the potential to be the best version of themselves and I want to work with them to unlock every opportunity for personal growth.

If you are interested to have life coaching sessions, or have more questions around “How can life coaching help me?” or “What is life coaching?” Please feel free to contact me. I wish all of you all the best, take care and stay safe! Thank you for your service during these times.