Episode 215 with Jacqui O'Connor - Caring for the carers

On this episode Brian Berneman chats with Jacqui O'Connor about her journey and her work with Heart Place Hospital to support healthcare workers and carers.

Key Takeaways:

• Heart Place Hospital provides multidimensional support for frontline workers, addressing physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual needs
• The healthcare system often neglects self-care for carers, leading to burnout and stigma around seeking help
• Integrating holistic approaches with conventional healthcare can create more sustainable and effective care models
• There's a growing need to normalize and support empathic, sensitive qualities in healthcare professionals

Healthcare System Challenges:

• 80% of frontline workers don't access support due to stigma
• Many enter healthcare to fill personal voids, leading to "unhealed healers"
• Systemic issues lead to burnout, choosing paychecks over moral compass
• Lack of training on boundary setting and self-advocacy

Creation of Heart Place Hospital:

• Registered charity focused on "caring for the carers"
• Provides safe, soft sanctuary for healthcare workers to seek support without stigma
• Offers multidimensional support: mindset work, trauma healing, precision medicine
• Uses Te Wheke Maori Health model (octopus with 8 limbs) to address mind, body, soul, and family

Empathy and Sensitivity in Healthcare:

• Reframes high sensitivity and empathy as gifts rather than weaknesses
• Advocates for more "feminine energy" in care: compassion, kindness, receptiveness
• Supports healthcare workers in exploring and utilizing their intuitive gifts

For more about Jacqui and Heart Place Hospital find them on Instagram, Facebook, Youtube and https://www.heartplacehospital.org.nz/.