Is Coaching Right for Physicians in Crisis?
The Call That Makes Me Pause
Every so often I get a call from a physician who is not just stuck. They are in trouble. Something has fractured -- a career, a relationship, a sense of self -- and they want to know if coaching can help.
Coaching physicians in crisis requires a different conversation than coaching someone who feels stalled on the tenure track. The stakes are higher. The margins for getting it wrong are thinner.
What I Mean by Crisis
I am not talking about a bad quarter. I am talking about the moments that shake the foundation. A forced leave. A malpractice suit. A mental health emergency. The kind of event that makes you question whether you belong in medicine at all.
The Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Act, signed in 2022, brought national attention to how little support physicians have in these moments. But legislation alone does not close the gap between a physician in distress and the help they actually receive.
Coaching Is Not Therapy
Coaching does not diagnose. It does not treat clinical conditions. If a physician is experiencing suicidal ideation, severe depression, PTSD, or substance use disorder, the first call should be to a licensed mental health professional. Not a coach.
That is a boundary I take seriously.
Where Coaching Fits as Physician Crisis Support
Here is the part that gets lost. For physicians already receiving clinical support, coaching can serve a distinct role. Therapy helps you process the wound. Coaching helps you figure out what comes next.
Think of it like a pitcher recovering from shoulder surgery. The surgeon repairs the damage. The physical therapist restores range of motion. But the pitching coach helps you rebuild your mechanics and trust your arm again.
What coaching can offer alongside a therapist or counselor:
- Clarity about career next steps when everything feels uncertain
- A structured space to rebuild professional confidence without judgment
- Accountability for forward movement when the instinct is to freeze
- Help separating identity from the crisis event so you can see a future beyond it
How to Know Which You Need Right Now
If you are in acute distress, start with a clinician. That is the only responsible answer.
If you are past the acute phase but stuck in the aftermath -- unsure whether to stay, unable to trust your own judgment, struggling to find your footing -- that is where coaching enters the picture.
And if you are unsure? A good coach will tell you honestly.
The Bigger Point
Physicians deserve more than a single resource during the hardest moments of their careers. Crisis support, therapy, coaching -- they are not competing options. They are layers that serve different needs at different stages. You do not have to have it all figured out before you reach out.
If you'd like to learn more, contact us to schedule a time to chat.
