Holding Space, Honoring Boundaries, and Navigating Mental Health Within Scope of Practice: Debrief of Coaching Session #2 with Dr. Mary

Shownotes For Podcast Episode 7: Holding Space, Honoring Boundaries, and Navigating Mental Health Within Scope of Practice: Debrief of Coaching Session #2 with Dr. Mary

In this debrief episode of The Holistic Physician Coaching Podcast, Dr. Jessica Singh reflects on her second coaching session with Dr. Mary, a family medicine resident navigating first-time motherhood and medicine.

Dr. Singh revisits several themes from the coaching conversation, in which Dr. Mary discussed the challenges of balancing motherhood and medicine, including the tension between her desire to be at work and at home with her child, and her wish to return to work with optimism, support, and grace.

As the debrief unfolds, Dr. Singh offers a behind-the-scenes reflection on what it means to hold space for anxiety a coachee may be experiencing with care, to stay within the coaching scope of practice, and to remain grounded in ethical practice. She emphasizes the importance of presence, establishing boundaries, and humility when coaching on topics related to distress, vulnerability, or mental health.

Dr. Singh also reflects on a practical challenge many coaches face when working with physicians: last-minute rescheduling. Physician coachees may be navigating clinical responsibilities, family needs, unpredictable schedules, and limited personal bandwidth. In the debrief, Dr. Singh explores how coaches can respond with flexibility and compassion while still honoring their own time, maintaining professional boundaries, and creating a clear coaching container.

Dr. Singh reflects on her learning as a coach and physician, including the ongoing need for mentorship, supervision, and reflective practice. This episode invites physicians, physician coaches, and those who support clinicians to consider how coaching can create meaningful space for navigating challenging circumstances while maintaining clear professional boundaries and deep respect for the coachee’s whole-person experience.

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Resources Mentioned in This Episode:

For those interested in learning more about the distinctions and gray areas between coaching and counseling, Dr. Singh references her conversation with Lynn Lebowitz on The Health and Wellness Coach Journal Podcast: “Unpacking Key Differences Between Coaching And Counseling With Lynn Lebowitz.” Listen here: Unpacking Key Differences Between Coaching And Counseling With Lynn Lebowitz.

Timestamps:

0 — Introduction

1:21 — Navigating Last-Minute Cancellations with Presence, Compassion, and Boundaries in Physician Coaching

9:32 — Exploring the Role of the MBI Toolkit in Coaching Assessments

11:25 - Debriefing Session 2: 11:25 Early Coaching Nuances, Scope of Practice, and When to Refer

24:43 - Takeaways