Finding Balance Curriculum

The Finding Balance Program is divided into modules, each building on the others to maximize the effect of the course work. Each session is two hours long. There are nine total sessions. The following sections are included:

Managing Stress – This session will help the participant understand effects of stress on the physician trainee's life. This session will focus primarily on physiology and cognitive models of stress. This program will also describe tools to use while surviving transition into a new role. There will an introduction of a brief meditation which the participant will be asked to practice for seven minutes daily for one month. This practice will be logged and reported.

Emotional Shifting and Emotional Intelligence – This session will focus on the physiology of and applications of emotional shifting and the use of biofeedback. Exercises will be focused on managing stress in various difficult circumstances. A five minute meditation program will be taught with an audio CD. The expectation would be daily use of the CD until the next session. This practice will be logged and reported.

Meditation – This session will focus on the physiology and philosophy of meditation. It will also cover aspects of application of meditation in the clinical realm, as an intervention. A twenty minute practice will be taught. The participant will then be asked to practice twenty minutes of guided (CD) meditation daily.

The Physician Personality – This session will focus on understanding the psychological make-up of the physician and how it may create problems. This session covers Type A behavior, perfectionism and workaholism.

Psychosynthesis (two sessions) – The first session will help the participant understand their personality and give the participant tools to restructure their personality and attitudes. The teaching will be of an experiential nature. The second session will help them explore, to a greater degree, the nature of their personality and how to use it to accomplish specific goals.

The Science of Connection and Communication – This session will outline the scientific data on inter-human connection and relationship, and teach tools to enhance communication, empathy and intuitive listening. Follow-up will include logging intuitive diagnostics.

Physical Well-Being – This session will review the areas of nutrition and exercise. The intention is to have the participant understand the relevance of these areas and their application for clinical practice. A yoga class will be included in this program to give the participant the feel of a mind-body approach to well-being.

Humanizing Errors – Mistakes will be a part a physician's career and home-life. The intention of this session is to help the participant manage medical and personal error. It will outline key points on the ethical, legal and psychological outcomes of error and judgment. It will help the participant to bring in the previously learned tools to manage this sensitive area.

The "Coach" – During the program the participant will be asked to have a designated coach. This person can be a significant other, family member, friend, classmate or colleague. The coach will participate in the program sessions with the participant and help them to achieve the goals of the program. Even world class athletes need a coach to objectively observe their behaviors and performance. In this regard, the coach is the participant's best link to sanity and thriving in their new role.

Program Materials
Each participant will receive a workbook and audio CD to help them follow the content of the program.