Trisha Torrey

Are You an Impostor?

6 minutes of reading / 1 Comment / By Trisha Torrey / December 7, 2015

See if this sounds familiar: When it comes time to help a client, or discuss your work, or promote your practice… you hesitate. Sometimes just a little, sometimes more, sometimes you balk all together. You ask yourself, “What it they figure out I don’t really know what I’m talking about?” or “What if I don’t know enough?” or “What if mess up because I’m not really worthy? or “What if they find me out?” Do you ever feel like a fraud, an impostor? Studies show that at times, you probably do. In fact, that feeling is so prevalent that it […]

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8 End-of-the-Year Tasks for Smart Care Professionals

4 minutes of reading / 2 Comments / By Trisha Torrey / November 30, 2015

You may be in the process of making up your holiday shopping and to-do lists… So while you are at it, here’s another important list to make – this one for your advocacy practice. When if you complete these tasks before December 31, you’ll set the stage for an even better business year in 2016! Included on your list should be tasks that address money, marketing, taxes and legal matters, plus others you think of that will help you grow, prosper, and support your patient-clients who so desperately need your skills. Here are some ideas to get you started on

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And the First AdvoConnection Spotlight is on…

1 minute of reading / Leave a Comment / By Trisha Torrey / November 23, 2015

It’s been in the works for a little while, and today we’re happy to announce a new way for some APHA members to promote their capabilities… the AdvoConnection Advocate Spotlight! Why the Spotlight? AdvoConnection Directory Listed members are doing wonderful work on behalf of their clients. We wanted a way to tell stories about patients and families who have benefited in so many ways from working with these skilled advocates. Their stories will trigger recognition among potential clients and will encourage them to contact advocates who can provide the help they need. Meet APHA’s First Advocate in the Spotlight: Nancy

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Do You Protect Your Herd?

4 minutes of reading / 2 Comments / By Trisha Torrey / November 16, 2015

(Warning! Today I’m sharing a personal opinion for which I don’t expect total agreement. But I’m steadfast in my belief. I have science behind me. I’m girded for argument… bring it on!) When I began my patient empowerment work in 2005, I had little or no understanding of the benefits of getting a flu shot except that – maybe – it would protect me from getting the flu. But I didn’t feel like I was at risk; I lived alone, I worked from home, my kids were no longer in school (where flu runs rampant!), and I was still relatively

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Making the Case for Nonsense

4 minutes of reading / Leave a Comment / By Trisha Torrey / November 9, 2015

I suspect this discussion is going to surprise you as much as it surprised me. The topic is Nonsense, but not Nonsense by its classic definition. No, this Nonsense is quite different, and, frankly, sometimes it chokes me up. Just published a month ago, Nonsense: The Power of Not Knowing is the title of a new book by Jamie Holmes. Jamie is a Future Tense Fellow at New America, a non-profit, think-tank / forum / media platform that promotes the intellectual study of politics, prosperity and purpose. Part science, part expos, part business lesson, Nonsense will surely leave you looking

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Step Aside Pollyanna! There’s No Room Here for You

6 minutes of reading / Leave a Comment / By Trisha Torrey / November 2, 2015

This is a message with a little tough love for some of the folks I encounter – Pollyannas – who are choosing advocacy as career move. Sorry Pollyanna – but there is no room for you in patient advocacy. You have a choice: you can either learn to overcome your inner Pollyanna or you can find yourself another profession. Pollyannaism can too easily get in the way of the professionalism required of good, competent advocates, and can result in deficient service to clients. The Pollyanna Advocate Pollyanna is a fictional character from children’s literature, who is known for always being

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Merriam Webster, The Who, and Hacking Churnalism

5 minutes of reading / Leave a Comment / By Trisha Torrey / October 19, 2015

Today we’re channeling The Who, Merriam Webster and one of my longtime favorite fellow patient empowerment buddies, Gary Schwitzer, who reminds me at least weekly why we just can’t trust the media without very careful review. As follows: I love a new word. When this one appeared in my inbox last week, I wanted to share it with you because it’s an important concept for advocates and patients alike. Today’s new word is: Churnalism.(Take that Merriam Webster!) Churnalism is the product of lazy reporters and journalists who, without further investigation or review, simply reprint (or broadcast) a submitted press release

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