Wellness clinic

Where does "wellness" come from

Many things contribute to mental and physical wellbeing. These include aspects like general temperament and personality, upbringing, genetics, exercise, self confidence and esteem and quality of relationships, Feeling that one is on the right career path and in control of/on top of daily workflow or demands and how a career is progressing are just a few which relate specifically to career and work.

Although when looking at a career situation - the primary focus is on the working life - it is also essential to at least pay some attention to the other issues mentioned above that can influence the mental and physical health of an individual. Merely looking at "career" in isolation and not taking a holistic approach or to examine or plan a career without taking account of the rest of the person is asking for trouble.

It is our experience at Medical Forum that there is a wide range of career guidance needs for medical students and doctors who are experiencing less than 100% good health. From disabled trainees from the start of their career through to those who become disabled due to illness or injury, from those who want to be doctors but who find the arduous traditional hours commitment and heavy workload unsustainable to those whose health is severely limiting their clinical career perhaps to the point of needing to change career altogether.

Chicken and egg

Then there is the question not just of how your health may be affecting work but how poor work practices (sometimes self inflicted) could be contributing to your health.  How "fit" is a career and how is it affecting all round health are questions that we regularly need to address in the Career Review and Personal Career Programmes. What comes first - the chicken or egg ? Is it work that is making someone ill or is it a pre-existing illness that is restricting ability to work. Or even a mixture of the two (just to complicate things!). Not everyone joins us because of health concerns - but it is still important to think about ones own health needs as part of any career plan. Conversly ignoring ones own health needs in order to sustain a career is an approach that can not be reccommended.

So what can you do to take more care of your health and ensure that your career is in balance with you as a person?

Suggestions for addressing your career wellness

Firstly try out our free "beat stress" e-course. You don't have to be under extreme stress to benefit from this as it has a preventive element to it and thereby helps to remind you of what you should be doing normally.

Secondly you could fill in our workbook or think about joining a Career Review. The Review enables you to get down on paper all the issues in your career that may be causing you concern (and a few that you didn't know about too perhaps). This in itself can be a therapeutic and formative process but then returning the workbook for some personalised feedback on it can be invaluable in prompting new perspectives on old habits and different attitudes to your career.

Thirdly we have a "Work life balance" training pack in preparation (and a presentation CD for those needing to make presentations on this topic - eg to convince their Trust or organisation that further steps are needed to promote this important concept) - which will help you to understand why attaining this may be so hard and perhaps give you some ideas on how to go about regaining or grasping a better balance. One of ourteleconference session topics is also about "work life balance".

Finally there is a "Career guidance essentials - personal" training pack which takes a holistic look at how to approach career planning or seeking career guidance from others. See our price list under the order section.

Organisations may be interested in our "Career rehabilitation package" which consists of a range of our services tailored to the needs of the doctor facing health limitations on their career. Anyone in current employment facing a health problem that could affect their career should in the first instance approach occupational health. There are also employment laws governing how ill or disabled persons can be treated by their employers and these are often poorly adhered to where doctors are concerned. However, a good employer will take steps to see that anyone working for them who can no longer continue due to ill health - receives support that includes specialised career guidance. Sadly those in short term contracts are often not well catered for in such situations.