You Have A Choice: Building A Medical Team That Listens And Partners With You

How Do You Find The Right Doctor?

Most of us are told what to do in the exam room and feel we have to say yes. We flip that script with a clear, compassionate guide to finding a doctor who respects your values, explains real options, and partners with you on decisions that affect your whole life.

We talk through the difference between protocols and personalized care, why informed consent is more than a signature, and how to spot red flags like pressure, rushed visits, or one-size-fits-all plans. With candid stories from cancer care to everyday prescriptions, we show how a simple question—What happens if I do this, don’t do this, or try something else?—can open space for safer, smarter choices. You’ll learn practical scripts to ask for risks, benefits, and alternatives; how to pause the urgency that fear creates; and ways to bring faith, family, and intuition into the room without sacrificing clinical rigor.

Our approach blends holistic health, patient rights, and real-world medicine. We explore how to build trust with clinicians who listen, when to seek a second opinion, and how to align treatments with your definition of well-being. Whether you’re navigating a serious diagnosis or just want a better relationship with your primary care team, this conversation equips you to be a true partner in your care.

If this helped you feel more confident about your health choices, follow the show, share it with someone who needs it today, and leave a quick review telling us the one question you’ll ask at your next appointment.

To learn more about Holographic Health visit:
https://www.HolographicHealth.com
Holographic Health
800-566-1522

Episode Transcript

SPEAKER_00 (00:02):
Welcome to Holographic Health Insights, the
podcast where science meets soulfor complete well-being.
Joint host Reverend Anne-MarieByers and her daughter Rochelle
Genera has been exploredtransformative health approaches
that integrate body, mind, andspirit.
From energy medicine to holisticpractices.

SPEAKER_01 (00:24):
Choosing a doctor isn't just about credentials,
it's about connection,communication, and alignment
with your wellness values.
Welcome back, everyone.
Good to see you both.
Hope your week's been good.

(00:45):
So far.
Well, let's get right into it.
Um, this is a vital topic thatwe've discussed, we've touched
on in other uh other podcasts,but let's talk about finding the
rock the right doctor for youand what you need to consider in
that search.
So take it away.

SPEAKER_03 (01:02):
Well, I think the most important thing that
everyone needs to understand isthat you do have choice, because
there are specific medicalmodels that most doctors are
required to follow.
But it is your choice whether ornot you choose any of those

(01:23):
treatments, because when youfeel in your heart that some
treatment is or is not right foryou, then it is your choice
whether or not you proceed withthat.
Whether we're talking about avaccine, chemotherapy, any kind

(01:44):
of drug therapy, look at theside effects, look at the pros
and cons, talk to God and seewhat you feel in your heart is
right for you.
And you should have a doctorthat helps explain those
considerations to you and thatlistens to you as a whole

(02:05):
person, and then aligns withwhat you're feeling you need to
do, what you truly believe youshould do.
And, you know, I've been throughseveral cancer diagnoses,
several surgeries, and so wereally believe that there are
times when you do need asurgery, you do need a drug, but

(02:27):
then there are also times whenI've gone to my doctor and I've
said, I've talked to God aboutthat.
I do not feel like that's what Ineed to do.
When it came to chemotherapy,for example, it did not feel
right.
And so I have a doctor who said,Okay, we'll watch you closely.

(02:50):
And when you have a doctor whois also a Christian or a
spiritual person and honors thatin you, then you have found a
gym.
Just somebody to show you theproper respect and honor that
you are showing them.
And so you listen to what theyhave to say, you do your own

(03:12):
research, you see how you andGod feel about it, and then you
make your decision based onthat.
And we believe in working with,you know, when you get a
diagnosis, then we can help workwith the natural therapies
around that diagnosis.
So a diagnosis and traditionalmedicine do have their place,

(03:36):
but they're not gods, they'renot God, and they are not the
be-all and end all.
So it is choice.
It is your choice.

SPEAKER_01 (03:45):
What are some key qualities to look for in a
doctor beyond the resume?

SPEAKER_02 (03:49):
Sure.
So, like Ann said, um, somebodywho will listen to you.
And I come from a medicalbackground.
Some of you may not know that.
Um, I went to school to be aspeech pathologist and part of a
part of half of us work in theschools with PEATs, and half of
us work pretty much half in amedical setting.

(04:09):
So a hospital, nursing home,that kind of thing.
So we go through training ingrad school to prepare us for
either one.
So I have kind of I've had toesin both worlds, and the doctor
is following a standard of care.
So they have the standardprotocol.
Their job is to just offer youthe protocol.

(04:30):
And then your job is to startthat, which starts then a
conversation.
So your job as a patient of thatdoctor is not to just play dead
and roll over and take whateverthey're throwing at you.
Your job is to then be aconversation partner.
And obviously, you know, Annsaid, we talk to God about it,

(04:52):
we pray about it.
If it doesn't feel right in ourbody, or even after doing
research and looking into prosand cons, like she said,
hopefully your doctor is able toprovide you with some of that.
That is their job.
Um it's what we call informedconsent.
That is, that is their job tomake sure that you have informed

(05:14):
consent.
Well, what happens if I do this?
What happens if I don't?
What happens if I do somethingelse?
Um, so their job is to walk youthrough some of those decision
makings.
It's not, I'm presenting youwith this decision that I've
made.
No.
That comes from somewhere abovetheir head, and their job is
just to present it.
And in their notes, if you sayno, that you decline something,

(05:36):
they'll just write that down.
And it's it, they should nottake it personally.
If they do, then you probablyneed a new a new doctor.
Um, it's when that conversationstops.
That that is, in my mind, a redflag to go look for somebody who
is willing to have thatconversation.

SPEAKER_03 (05:53):
And when you do have a severe imbalance, you've had a
severe diagnosis like cancer orMS or some other significant
diagnosis that has that standardof care.
And you have a doctor that says,we're gonna do this, we're gonna
do this, we're gonna do this,and they're not listening to

(06:16):
you, that is a real problem.
And I've been to doctors likethat, where they're gonna
railroad you into whatever theirstandard is and whatever they
think, and that is not truemedicine, that is just following
whatever the cookbook says, andyou are not a cookbook, you are

(06:39):
an individual with individualneeds.
And uh I have worked with peoplerecently who have had cancer
diagnoses, and they have beenholding steady for a year.
They have been watching diet andwatch taking certain nutrition,

(07:00):
it's their choice to do that.
It's just, you know, we can'tsay we can cure cancer or
anything else, that's betweenthem and God.
That's between a doctor and apatient and God.
And so if somebody is just goingto railroad you into something

(07:21):
that you do not feel good about,then you need to look elsewhere.
There are many different doctorsand different plans, different
drug therapies, differentnatural therapies.
That is up to you.
So that is the most importantthing to understand is that

(07:45):
regardless of what the diagnosisis, you do have choice.

SPEAKER_01 (07:51):
Well, you both you guys mentioned a red flag, you
know, like uh, you know, if thishappens, then you probably don't
have the right guy.
Does does any other red flagscome to mind?

SPEAKER_02 (08:00):
That's a big one, I think.
Um, informed consent, looking atall of your options.
Um I've I've been to a fewdoctors in my day.
I'm I'm not quite as seasoned asAnne with um medical
practitioners, but two instancesstick out in my mind.
There was an instance, it wasaround the time that she got

(08:21):
sick about 10 years ago, not 10,maybe seven.
And I had a doctor who I gotsome lab results back, and she
was like, Well, we need to get asample and then do this.
And I said, Well, then why likearen't we gonna learn something
from the sample before I go havethis procedure?
Well, yeah, but no matter whatit says, we're gonna go do the

(08:42):
procedure.
And I was just like, I'm gonnashow you, I'm gonna be an
example.
So we got my lab results backand they were fine.
And she scheduled me for theprocedure and I said, No, I'd
like to talk to you about otheroptions.
And every time I called theoffice, I just got a nurse
practitioner who said, Well,this is what she's written, so

(09:04):
this is what you need to do.
And I said, No, can I talk toher about this?
Never heard another word fromher, haven't seen her since,
have not been back to thatpractice.
And then most recently, I wentto just a just a general
practitioner, um, a nursepractitioner, and she was gonna
prescribe me a steroid.
And I said, I've never taken asteroid.
Do we have another option?

(09:25):
I'm sure I can just give youlike a high dose of ibuprofen.
Okay, I know that I do okay withthat, so thank you.
But it was this very simple likeI don't feel good about that.
What are my other options?
Oh, well, this right here.
Like it it's sometimes sosimple, but it still stems from
that conversation piece that Ithink a lot and some people like

(09:48):
with a cancer diagnosis, you goin and you are scared.
You are terrified.
This is not anywhere that youever wanted to be or thought
that you would be.
So I think the the Westernmedical system kind of preys on
that and takes advantage ofpeople who are in that state of
fear.
And when you're in a state offear, you cannot access your

(10:10):
higher mind and yourdecision-making faculties are
not there.
Um and I think that's kind ofwhat they what they bank on is
that, oh, well, I'm just gonnapresent this option and they're
gonna take it because they'rescared and they want to do
something immediately and getthe ball rolling.
I'm very much like that myself.
But with big decisions, let's bereal.

(10:32):
If you're buying a house, buyinga car, um, deciding whether to
put your child in school, likethese are massive decisions that
have a long-term effect.
Healthcare is the same way.
So I think it deserves some timeto settle, give you time to pray
and really think about it,consult your family.

(10:52):
It's really a family decision.
I mean, like with Anne'sdiagnosis, you know, we it's a
team effort.
Like we rally, we all pray, weall, you know, get her to
appointments and get her whatshe needs and make sure that
we're just there to listen ifshe needs us, like a doctor
should be.
So think about a doctor asanother part of your team.
And if they're not playing likea teammate, go find somebody who

(11:18):
will, because I promise youthere's something every
procedure, every surgery, everydrug has a side have side
effects, and you need to haveconsequences, yes.

SPEAKER_03 (11:32):
And you have to weigh those with not doing
anything and or doing analternative solution like
steroids.
Steroids can have reallynegative side effects, and so
should you do that sometime?

(11:52):
Perhaps, should you not?
Perhaps, that depends on you.
And the last I did steroidsonce, threw me into a real
difficult situation with someyeast and other things.
I will not do that again.
And so I've learned for myselfthere are th things I do not

(12:15):
want to do, do not feelcomfortable doing.
And those are things that youhave the right to talk discuss
with your doctor.
And if you have a doctor thatsays, Well, we're gonna do this
no matter what, that is not adiscussion.

SPEAKER_02 (12:32):
That is No, that's when they get fired and you
don't go back.

SPEAKER_03 (12:37):
You have the right to go somewhere else.
And it's it's perfectly fine,you know, if you have somebody
you can discuss your issueswith, come to uh an informed
decision and feel good aboutthat.
You trust the person that you'reworking with, that is extremely

(12:59):
important.
This is your health.

SPEAKER_02 (13:02):
And you you and uh you have an important word,
trust.
Trust is not given, it isearned.
You don't automatically gettrust from somebody because you
have all these letters behindyour name or all these
certificates on the wall.
You earn the trust by building arelationship with somebody.
It's that way with who we chooseto marry, it's that way with who

(13:23):
we choose to be friends with.
It should definitely be that waywith somebody who we put as, you
know, not in charge of ourhealth, but somebody that we
entrust with our health.
So key word.
Thank you.

SPEAKER_01 (13:35):
Well, Anne-Marie, Rochelle, thank y'all so much
for sharing uh very empoweringinsights on how to find a
doctor.
And we will see you guys in thenext episode.

SPEAKER_00 (13:47):
Thanks for joining us on holographic health
insights.
If you're ready to dive deeperinto transformative health
approaches, visitholographichealth.com or give us
a call at 800 566 1522.
Remember, your journey to totalwell being starts here.