Posts Tagged ‘gynecology’

Introducing The Owning Pink Center & The Pink Partnership Agreement

Tuesday, February 2nd, 2010

Pink Heart SoapsHiya Pinkies! As many of you know, I have been struggling for six months over whether or not to leave my job at the integrative health center where I work. On one level, I adore the people, the space is gorgeous, and my patients are treasures. Compared to my old job in the crazy busy managed care practice where I used to work, it’s heaven. But deep down, I realize it doesn’t align with my vision. Being there has been clipping my wings. And it’s time to FLY.

Introducing The Owning Pink Center

So I took the leap of faith and submitted my resignation just before Christmas, without a clue what would happen next. More Pleaping (taking a Pink leap of faith!) Wheeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Once again, I found myself letting go, surrendering into what will be, trusting God, and being open to Signs from the Universe. Well, wouldn’t you know it, all the signs have aligned to allow me to bring Owning Pink into bricks and mortar in a beautiful space on 600 Miller Ave in Mill Valley, CA. The Owning Pink Center- where I will join forces with acupuncturists, a nutritionist, a psychologist, and Mojo Mentor Tricia Barrett, our Pink & Green cleanse expert- will be open soon, right down the street from where I have been practicing. It will give us a chance to bring Owning Pink into the real world, to ground what we’ve created in cyberspace and demonstrate how what we do can heal people. I’m VERY excited.

In the process of clarifying my thoughts and dreams, I have been doing a lot of writing about how I think health care can be best received by those in need of healing, and I decided to start with what I call the Pink Partnership Agreement, a contract between me and my patients. After I wrote it, I realized that this is very similar to what we do here at Owning PInk Central. We enter into sacred contract together- with the express purpose of healing ourselves and each other. So I wanted to share it with you here.

The Pink Partnership Agreement
As doctor and patient, you and I are entering into a partnership. As such, I feel it is important to clarify and agree upon what our relationship will entail.

Your Power to Heal
I am here to support you, guide you, offer you tools, and support your process, but I will not “fix” you – for I don’t believe you are broken.

I believe you already have within you the power to heal yourself. When we meet, I will hold up the mirror so you can see that you already have what it takes to optimize your wellness and live the most joyous, vibrant, fulfilling, sexy, healthy life possible.  You are here to be the force behind your own healing. If you are not ready to take this action step, I will be here to nurture and support you, but the process will be less powerful, with fewer results.

Respect for each other and the process

In order for our partnership to be successful, we must respect each other.  I will offer you a treatment plan, but I will also invite you to listen to the intuition of your body and your soul. I will respect your autonomy, and the choices for how we proceed will always be yours.
We will respect each other’s time. I will not make you wait for your appointment, and you will not be late.  We must be present, fully and completely, during our time together. This means we will both turn off cell phones, let go of distractions, and focus all of our energy on your wellness.  We have to be open and tell the truth, even if it is painful or uncomfortable.  We must trust that we are safe together, so we can explore things that may be tough to explore.  We must open our hearts to the loving kindness and compassion that is a necessary part of any healing relationship.

My pledge to you
I promise to respect you, guide you, and help you discover the healing power within you. In exchange, I ask that you follow through on any treatment plan we agree upon. If our treatment plan does not resonate with your body’s wisdom, or if you have financial constraints, please tell me so that we can modify our plan. Follow through is key. We must walk this path together in order to manifest the results I know we can achieve.

This is YOUR life. OWN IT.
Are you on board? If so, sign here. (Insert your signature here!)

The Owning Pink Wellness Center Mission Statement

We believe that the power to heal lies within all of us. Rather than “fixing” you, we aim to offer you tools that will empower you to attain optimal wellness, vitality, and joy. We believe health is the foundation upon which we build the other facets of what makes us whole- our creativity, relationships, career, spirituality, sexuality, and life purpose.  At Owning Pink, we hold up the mirror to reflect back to you what you already know but may not see- that you are beautiful, just the way you are, and that getting your mojo back is not only possible, it’s your birthright!

The Owning Pink Center Philosophy

The health care system in the United States may be broken, but we as individuals are whole, just as we are.  At Owning Pink, we aim to create an entirely new way to heal- one that works from the inside out. Unlike traditional medical practices, where you may be herded in and out in 7 1/2 minutes, handed a prescription for drugs you may not understand, and wind up feeling worse than when you walked in, we strive to let the healing begin the moment you walk in the door.  We value the opportunity to be present with you, to hold space for you, to listen, and to offer you our expertise as an equal partners in your wellness plan.  We believe you are more powerful than you know, that you hold the keys to living fully right in your own hand. Our job is to help you use the keys you already possess and supplement anything else you might need to achieve your health and wellness goals.

Too many people walk around in a daze, unaware that there is a better life out there, just longing to be lived.  When you lack energy, struggle to sleep, experience stress, feel depressed, dislike the way your body looks and feels, and suffer from symptoms and diseases, you may come to accept that this is simply life. We at Owning Pink believe there is more to life than just getting by. We believe you can get your mojo back- and have fun doing so. It’s what Owning Pink is all about- being brilliantly, gleefully, wholly healthy, inside and out.

As human beings, we may manifest symptoms and diseases, but underlying these external manifestations, our spirits know the answers to how we can live more vitally.  We ask our clients questions such as “What does your body need to get better?” And we honor and cherish the answers that come up. We value the wisdom of the body and the enduring strength and resilience of the human spirit. We value YOU.

The practitioners at the Owning Pink Center are skilled at helping you access these answers to help you reclaim the life you know you’re meant to live.  We call upon all of the tools in our collective tool boxes- using traditional Western medicine, natural and functional medicine, nutrition, bioidentical hormone balancing, acupuncture, Chinese medicine, therapy, raw foods/detox cleansing, and a variety of other alternative therapies to help you access what you need to achieve optimal health. Mostly, we practice love, with a little bit (okay, sometimes a lot) of medicine on the side. What does love have to do with medicine? Everything. Trust us on this.  When we approach our bodies with love, acceptance, and nurturing kindness, we pave the way for magic to unfold, the kind of magic we’re blessed to witness every day.

We invite you to step up to the Pink plate. Are you in? We can’t wait to bear witness to your transformation.

So here’s me, Pinkies- Pleaping! I’d LOVE your feedback! What resonates for you? What seems too woo woo or weird? How can we help patients understand what Owning Pink is all about in a medical practice? How are you Pleaping these days? What resistance keeps you from following your dreams?

Jumping off cliffs right and left,

Dr. Lissa

Lissa Rankin, MD

PS. Stay tuned for our new website, how to make appointments, and all the details that turn a dream into reality.

Lost Your Libido & Looking For Lust? Find Your Sexual Arousal & Your Mojo With A Few Health Tips

Thursday, September 24th, 2009

decreased libidoHiya, Pinkies, and happy Healthy Thursday. I’m no longer soliciting questions for my book, What’s Up Down There? Questions You’d Only Ask Your Gynecologist If She Was Your Best Friend, but your questions keep rolling in, so I thought I’d answer a few of them here. Here you go!

I really adore my lover, but I’m just never in the mood anymore. I don’t want to lose him. Is there anything I can do to turn my juices on?

I hear you, sister.  This is a tough one.  Sex drive in women is a complex beast. While men may need little more than a pretty smile to get them in the mood, most women require more.  Factors that can contribute to decreased libido include  (among others):

  • Feeling tired or stressed
  • Side effects from medications such as birth control pills/patch/ring or anti-depressants
  • Feeling unsafe or unloved in your relationship
  • Hormonal imbalance
  • History of sexual abuse or trauma
  • Chronic medical conditions, such as diabetes or high blood pressure

Unlike men, who may pop a Viagra or put on a porn video to get in the mood, a woman’s libido is fussy.  A few questions I’d like to know about you:

Do you masturbate? Does that still feel sexy to you?

Are you able to orgasm, either by yourself or with a partner?

Are you on birth control pills or other medications?

Have you hit menopause?

Do you feel safe and happy in your relationship?

How do you feel about your body image?

Take this quiz to help you determine what might be affecting your desire.  If masturbation is still fun and you’re able to orgasm, chances are that it’s more psychological than physical. If you’re on the Pill or menopausal, it could be hormonal. If you’re feeling unsafe or unloved in your relationship, or if you’re constantly dissing your body, these factors can take a toll and are worth discussing with a therapist.

If decreased sexual arousal distresses you, talk to your doctor, who can investigate whether there’s a medical reason for your low libido. Ask your doctor whether switching the brand of your birth control pill or trying another form of contraception might help.  If you are menopausal, have had your ovaries removed, undergone chemotherapy, or are breastfeeding, talk to your doctor about whether systemic or local hormones might help you.

If your doctor gives you the clean bill of health, here are a few tips you might try to give your libido a boost.

  • Schedule intimate dates. If you’re waiting for until 11pm to think about hooking up, your body might have other ideas. Plan morning dates or early evening dates to give your body the chance to feel stimulated.
  • Try Laura Corn’s 101 Nights of Grrreat Sex (or Grrreat Romance, if you’re not as daring).  This book includes tear-out pages of fun seductions For Him or For Her. Some are pretty risqué, but all are sexy. Just the simple act of planning a seduction can be a turn on.
  • Experiment with erotic film, books, or magazines. Keep an open mind and check out whether anything turns you on.
  • Have a hey day at a sex toy store. You never know what might get you in the mood.
  • Try erotic role-playing. Maybe you’ve always wanted to hook up with a cop. Perhaps your boyfriend would play along.
  • Talk to your doctor about a trial of testosterone cream. It’s not for everyone, but some of my patients swear by it.
  • Try sexual arousal aids, such as Zestra,  a sexy botanical oil that may be just the trick for you.

Keep in mind that every woman is unique, so no one thing works for every individual. But the more you set the intention to spice up your sex life, the more likely you are to succeed. Do you want your sex drive to improve? Say so. Talk to your girlfriends. Write about it in your journal. Commit to it. Then, with  an open mind, set forth. You just might be surprised.

What about you Pinkies? What works for you? The collective wisdom of all of us is much more powerful than my one opinion. Let’s talk about sex! Don’t be shy…

Big Pink love to you all,

Dr. Lissa

Lissa Rankin, MD’s book What’ s Up Down There? Questions You’d Only Ask Your Gynecologist If She Was Your Best Friend will be published by St. Martin’s Press in Fall, 2010. To make an appointment with Dr. Lissa, call CLEAR Center of Health, the integrative medicine practice where she works in Mill Valley, CA.