I hope you are having a good month so far, and that all is going well with your practice this autumn.
I love that November is a full month without any school holidays, which if you think about it is quite unusual.
It always feels like a good time to do some tidying up, which for me means mostly a digital declutter - files, photos, downloads etc.
I also like to look back through my journal and to-do lists app to review my goals from the start of the year.
Inevitably, my list at the start of the year will have been over-optimistic.
November is also when I start to consider what I want to focus on in the new year – this is so important to me, that I need plenty of time to reflect on it.
More on these topics in the December newsletter.
If you are new here, welcome! I’m Tracy, a homeopath in east London. I’ve been in practice for 16 years and have been writing this newsletter since 2015.
Every month I share some practice reflections, together with tips and links to inspire you.
Autumn webinars 🍁
Available to watch on replay
Skills and Checklists for a Thriving Practice 💡
Homeopathy for Chronic Stress and Adrenal Fatigue 🌿
Friday 10th November
Homeopathy for Menopause 🧰
Early Bird extended until the end of today!
Perimenopause and Menopause are topics that I’m often asked about, and this webinar covers them in more depth, including how to approach them using a structured prescribing method with nosodes, constitutional remedies and organ support.
This webinar has been my most-requested ever (!), and I’m excited to be teaching this important topic for the first time.
Join live or watch on replay.
What to do when progress is slow 🦋
As homeopaths, we are ‘freelance’ businesses that earn a living from many small projects rather than a couple of large ones (which is what most other types of freelancers do).
The fee we charge needs to take account of not only the time in the appointment, and the time on casework, but also the time spent on answering the invariable questions and check-ins that turn up on a daily basis.
Every homeopath knows that some cases are ‘easy’ while others are ‘hard’.
Sometimes remedies help the person feel better again quickly, but if the case has many drug layers it can be tricky.
When progress is slow, we start to doubt ourselves.
Especially if the person questions us and expresses concerns about how much longer it will be before they are better.
Slow progress in a recent case
I treat a lot of cases of acne in my practice and it’s quite normal for me to see people who have had several courses of antibiotics and accutane treatment.
One client who started homeopathy with me last November was making steady progress but always questioned me about how much longer she would need treatment.
Suddenly, in June, she told me she planned to go back to Roaccutane.
This came out of the blue for me and I immediately felt like a complete failure.
I decided not to go down without a fight, though and decided to ask a question that I had not previously dared to ask.
“Did you, by any chance, have lip filler injections in the past?”
Why, yes, she had.
I then went down the ‘internet rabbit hole’ to find out the long-term side effects of lip fillers.
I found a paper which described the impact of lip fillers over time, which is that the material injected gradually ‘slides down’ into the chin area.
This, for me, was something that could be impacting her treatment, as the chin area was the main area that was resistant to treatment.
Through the back-and-forth email conversation, I gained further insight into her current state of mind, which led me to prescribe three new remedies: Medorrhinum, Thuja and Nit Ac.
I left the email conversation saying that I hoped she would take the remedies and that she would allow herself to believe that she could heal.
That was 4 months ago.
Last week this patient booked a follow-up appointment with me, which took place yesterday.
I asked if she had taken the remedies, and yes, she had, for several months.
Her tone was more relaxed, she was more accepting of herself.
Her skin had improved considerably and she told me she glad she’d decided not to take Roaccutane.
At the end of the call, she told me that she had never doubted me, she had only doubted herself.
She realised that she was quite slow to heal and that she was frustrated by that.
But now she understood that she simply needed to give herself more time.
This was so interesting for me to hear, and has given me a lot to think about.
Her remedies this time?
Silicea, and Thiosinamine.
What will happen next, remains to be seen.
I’m just glad she came back.
Strategies to manage expectations
Slow progress is something to be expected, not feared.
My policy is to always be honest about past medications without being judgmental.
I also try to be clear about progress as I see it, and to summarise the impact of remedies as we go along.
Set realistic expectations at the beginning. On a Discovery Call explain that they need to see homeopathy as a course of treatment, and be clear that remedies will be adjusted to ensure progress over time.
Always prescribe on the symptoms that are the main reason for seeking treatment. If a remedy does not address those symptoms, it should not be relied upon.
Consider scheduling a check-in phone call. This could be one month after the first appointment so you can review progress before booking a follow-up.
Ask them if they have noticed any changes. Changes in symptoms, changes in mood, periods, bowels, sleep, energy etc.
Changes in general symptoms indicate that healing is taking place. Even if the main symptoms are taking time to fully clear. We know that, so make it clear for the patient.
If there is a definite plateau, consider offering a free check-in call instead of a follow-up. Charge a small fee for any remedies that are supplied. Repeat as needed until progress is resumed.
How about you?
How do you manage expectations?
Please do share in the comments if you would like.
I promise to reply. 💫
Brain food ✨
What I learned about life from bird-watching - or, the one thing that defines a successful relationship
Rethinking imposter syndrome - when multiple people believe in you it’s probably time to believe them
Your secret weapon against information overload - such a good video on the difference between ‘actionable’ information and ‘reference’ information
We’re sedating women with self-care - the Guardian introduces its new section on ‘living a good life’
It all matters - simple acts of kindness can make someone’s day
Homeopathy for menopause - early bird extended until the end of today (Friday 3rd November) 🧰
As always, thanks so much for reading.
If you found it useful please feel free to forward it to a friend if you think they’d like to see it.
Tracy 👩🏼💻