Are you caught in the riptide of your daily life?
Services – Coaching
Many women physicians struggle to keep up with their busy lives, feel they’re not excelling anywhere, and worry that they’re doing “it” wrong.
Some keep going on fumes, cobbling together workarounds and patchwork solutions, and others experience full-on burnout.
If this sounds familiar, just know that it doesn’t need to be this way. 1:1 coaching could be the right solution to help you overcome your challenges and obstacles and create the life you are craving.
When working with my 1:1 coaching clients, I use an overall yet client-tailored roadmap combined with just-in-time, fully-in-the-present coaching with the Gestalt approach. This approach aligns with my personal values of compassion, deep authentic connection, and humility. In brief, Gestalt coaching is based on the notion that everyone is doing the best they can at the moment and that real change occurs when we embrace our current experience with deep compassion rather than trying to force ourselves to become different or disowning parts of ourselves in the effort to change.
Here’s how 1:1 coaching with me works:
I’ll start with getting to know you and better understand the challenges you’re facing. We’ll then meet on a regular basis to dig in (generally one-hour video conference sessions every other week). During our time together we’ll combine laser focus and periodic deep dives to help you move forward. I’ll use a variety of techniques to help you become more aware of your core values and goals. You’ll craft a North Star that will pull you forward throughout our work together towards the life you crave. Between sessions, you’ll have exercises and small “tests of change” to try, till you land on strategies and practices that work for you. Together we’ll investigate any roadblocks. You’ll develop concrete action steps, navigate obstacles, and find the motivation to follow through. And we’ll make sure to celebrate your successes along the way.
Here’s the 5-step process I use in 1:1 coaching:

Laying the Foundation
Understanding your personality tendencies, strengths, values, and “derailers”

Setting the Stage
Identifying and clarifying your goals, core values, and life purpose

Diving into the Work
Using specific tools and exercises to raise awareness of personal roadblocks and support small experiments to move beyond them

Attending to Specific Needs
Putting special focus on specific topics as they arise, such as imposter syndrome and self-doubt, time and energy management, and setting boundaries and saying no without guilt

Celebration
Celebrating and making plans to build on your success
All work is based on the tenets of Gestalt coaching, which include an optimistic stance (“everyone is doing the best they can at this moment”), appreciation for the energy made available with increased awareness, and a compassionate approach to change.
Through 1:1 coaching with me, you will:
- Work with a trained coach who has walked in your shoes and helped so many other women physicians on this path as well
- Focus on the areas of your life that you most want to change
- Gain increased awareness and specific skills
- Learn where you have agency to change the character and course of your life, allowing you to show up as your best self at work and at home
- Create a satisfying, more balanced life where you can thrive, taking care of your patients, your family, and yourself in ways that feel doable and rejuvenating rather than draining
- Make changes that will substantially reduce the impact of the system-related drivers of burnout
- Rein in the misery of self-doubt and imposter syndrome and supercharge your confidence
- Rediscover your love of medicine. (Or through this process, you may choose to pursue a non-clinical career path that brings you the joy you seek.)
I can help you more clearly see the possibilities and find the hope that a more satisfying, joyful, doable life is possible.
If you want to transform from surviving to thriving, I would like to invite you to a 30 minute complimentary Lift Off Session to explore where you are, where you want to be, and some strategies to help you bridge the gap. I promise you’ll leave this working session with greater awareness and real value.
Contact me to schedule a 30-minute complimentary Lift Off Session.
“As a new leader recruited to launch a system-wide program in an organization that was new to me, I found myself suffering from self doubt. I worried, over-prepared, second-quessed myself, and spent hours in my head reviewing each meeting I attended or led. With coaching, I was able to rediscover my natural strengths, develop habits to boost my confidence, and grow into the kind of leader that I always wanted to be. I show up authentically now and am less reliant on recognition from others to know I’m doing a good job. Diane helped me with tangible practices, and she held me accountable for my goals.”
– Julia B., Assistant Professor, Internal Medicine and Program Medical Director.
“I felt stuck about the next steps in my professional life but wasn’t sure why. Working with Diane, I broke through a barrier I was previously not aware of. I felt so relieved and hopeful during the process. Focusing on my strengths was a different approach, and it motivated me to move forward in an amazing way. The results continue to unfold!”
– Mary Ellen M., ICU Nurse
“I wanted to try coaching so I could decide whether to suggest it to some of the physicians I lead. I also knew I wanted to work on work-life balance and my patient satisfaction scores. I found coaching with Diane to be surprisingly helpful—more than I expected and in ways I didn’t expect. I was able to improve my work-life balance, returning to meditation and exercising regularly, and spend more time focused in-the-moment with my patients. I’ve enthusiastically recommended coaching to several of my colleagues already.”
– Jill C., Family Physician and Physician Leader

Yes! Send me my free ebook:
The Challenges Women Physicians Face: What’s Needed to Shift from Striving to Thriving.
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Diane W. Shannon, MD, MPH, PCC
diane@dianeshannon.com | Connect on LinkedIn
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