Heart for the Doctor: Working with self-compassion

As a physician you have a responsible job with a high workload. You are deeply committed and work hard to provide good care. But how well do you take care of yourself? How do you keep yourself from burning out?

This book shows why doctors struggle and what the consequences are, both for the doctor and the patient. It shows, underpinned by scientific research, why self-compassion is the perfect antidote to the stress that doctors experience every day. And it teaches you to work with self-compassion in a practical, accessible way.

Heart for the Doctor is the first book on self-compassion specifically written for doctors.

Marga Gooren worked as a general practitioner for ten years. She is now a senior coach and teacher, working with doctors to improve resilience, self-care and job satisfaction.

Mila de Koning held various roles in the field of mental healthcare. She is now a senior mindfulness and self-compassion teacher and supervisor.

Together they provide self-compassion and mindfulness training to doctors.

“This masterpiece of a book captures the unique culture of medicine and how the profession affects a physician’s body, mind, and spirit. An excellent resource for any physician looking to improve their caring for their patients and themselves” – Paula Gardiner, Adjunct associate Professor of family medicine, Boston University, USA

“Heart for the Doctor offers plenty of food for thought and exercises to have more compassion for yourself, which enables you to continue practising medicine with pleasure and dedication in a hectic environment” – Henriëtte van der Horst, family physician, emeritus Professor of family medicine, Amsterdam UMC, The Netherlands

“Cultivating self-compassion not only enhances our personal wellbeing but also positively impacts on the ability to deliver the best possible care to our patients” – Dr Ira van der Steenstraten, President Queensland Medical Women’s Society, Vice President Doctors’ Health in Queensland, Australia

As a physician you have a responsible job with a high workload. You are deeply committed and work hard to provide good care. But how well do you take care of yourself? How do you keep yourself from burning out?

This book shows why doctors struggle and what the consequences are, both for the doctor and the patient. It shows, underpinned by scientific research, why self-compassion is the perfect antidote to the stress that doctors experience every day. And it teaches you to work with self-compassion in a practical, accessible way.

Heart for the Doctor is the first book on self-compassion specifically written for doctors.

Marga Gooren worked as a general practitioner for ten years. She is now a senior coach and teacher, working with doctors to improve resilience, self-care and job satisfaction.

Mila de Koning held various roles in the field of mental healthcare. She is now a senior mindfulness and self-compassion teacher and supervisor.

Together they provide self-compassion and mindfulness training to doctors.

“This masterpiece of a book captures the unique culture of medicine and how the profession affects a physician’s body, mind, and spirit. An excellent resource for any physician looking to improve their caring for their patients and themselves” – Paula Gardiner, Adjunct associate Professor of family medicine, Boston University, USA

“Heart for the Doctor offers plenty of food for thought and exercises to have more compassion for yourself, which enables you to continue practising medicine with pleasure and dedication in a hectic environment” – Henriëtte van der Horst, family physician, emeritus Professor of family medicine, Amsterdam UMC, The Netherlands

“Cultivating self-compassion not only enhances our personal wellbeing but also positively impacts on the ability to deliver the best possible care to our patients” – Dr Ira van der Steenstraten, President Queensland Medical Women’s Society, Vice President Doctors’ Health in Queensland, Australia