Episode 4: "The Fixer" Role of Healthcare Providers

In this episode, hosts Monika & Sammy explore “The Fixer” role that providers take on. They describe how being The Fixer shows up in clinical practice, signs and symptoms, origins and benefits, and tips for transitioning into The Guide role. 

Sammy describes it as “feeling like you need to be someone's hero [like] you need to be the one that solves all of their problems.” With this mentality, a provider must focus on how and what to change so that the patient improves. This is a great deal of pressure to perform. Instead, providers can shift into The Guide by asking “How can I support this person’s change?” which centers the patient in their own healing. 

At its core, helping somebody change is acknowledging their humanity. Acknowledging that they're an autonomous person, independent from what we may tell them to do. They have their own story, background, beliefs, and we can honor them as people by walking alongside them through their pain and/or rehabilitation. 

Highlights from our conversation in Episode 4: The Fixer

• [2:29] Sammy’s experience as The Fixer
• [6:13] Monika’s experience as The Fixer
• [9:03] Blurring Boundaries
• [19:45] Signs and symptoms of “fix-it mode”
• [27:47] Possible origins of The Fixer
• [33:51] Becoming a Guide
• [37:54] Noticing when you are in fix-it mode 
• [43:07] Visualizations and grounding techniques for The Fixer
• [45:59] Final thoughts on changing 

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Resources from Episode 4: The Fixer

• 28:34 - Burnout by Emily Nagoski and Amelia Nagoski 
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