Sex and drugs remain taboo in society, and the reluctance to talk about these topics only leads to misinformed and misguided teenagers who feel unnecessary judgments for themselves. It’s now high time to raise the awareness of teenagers about these topics to let them know of the safe spaces where they can freely express themselves. Dr. Lisa Lowery, an Adolescent Medicine specialist at the Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital-Spectrum Health Medical Group, joins us today to give tips on how to normalize these topics that should have been normal already. We are sexual beings after all and we should not deny it.
Let’s listen to Dr. Lowery to learn how to stay in the non-judgment zone!
[00:01 – 05:40] Opening Segment
- Welcoming today’s guest, Dr. Lisa Lowery
- Her path to adolescent medicine
[05:41 – 17:42] Build a Safe Space
- Dr. Lowery talks about the importance of mentors
- Hear Dr. Lowery’s interesting insights about teenagers
- Why they’re easier to work with than babies
- Honesty and consistency are keys
- Dr. Lowery shares a patient story that you should hear!
- Why we do what we do
[17:43 – 32:18] Normalize Sex Talks
- We talk about the responsibility that physicians carry
- A humbling experience
- Normalize sex and talking about it
- Dr. Lowery explains
- The right questions to ask
- We discuss intimate partner violence
[32:19 – 44:21] Take Care of Yourself Better
- The proper way to talk about sex trafficking with teenagers
- Behavioral health should be present in all practices
- Dr. Lowery tells us why
- Physicians should know social and mental health workers in their circles
- We talk about the benefits
- Physicians should take care of themselves too
[44:22 – 50:04] Closing Segment
- Parting words from Dr. Lowery
- Final Takeaways
- Providing a no-judgement zone
- Strategies to ask teenagers about sex
- Tips to discuss drugs and relationships with teenagers
- How to get into an adolescent’s head?
- Link below
Tweetable Quotes:
“Your mentor doesn’t have to look like you.” – Dr. Lisa Lowery
“We [physicians] have to learn how to take better care of ourselves emotionally.” – Dr. Lisa Lowery
Resources Mentioned:
Email [email protected] to connect with Dr. Lowery. Also, visit http://www.helendevoschildrens.org/AdolescentMedicine to learn more about her space.
If you’d like to connect with me, you can find me at LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter or email me at [email protected]. To learn more about me visit https://www.medicalbhs.com/
