“ are internal tokens (with no value in dollars) that allow members to receive credit for help they provide to non-profits or individual Simbi members, without having to exchange talents directly.
Safe & Seen: Medical Advocacy
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Doctors can be scary and hard to talk to, and illness can be disempowering and raise unexpected issues. Whether you're in pain, scared, whether you're having trouble with paperwork, whether you know what's wrong or just have concerns, I'll counsel you about your goals. Together we will decide where to direct our focus. We will discuss strategies for dealing with your health concerns. (This includes mental health.)
If you live in San Francisco or the surrounding areas, I'm open to attending appointments with you in person. We can talk over your preferred media about your experience, and we will discuss ways to make yourself heard even in hostile environments. If there is a way we decide it would be helpful, I'm happy to make phone calls as your personal assistant!
Training & Qualifications
My first qualification is my body, my own experience as a queer person with invisible chronic illness, injury, and disease. I have a lot of empathy, insight, and a knack for building bridges. I am good at drawing out surly people - and with all due respect, medical personnel can be very surly!
I understand that privacy is really important in this work. I am not a professional, but I have practiced this type of advocacy for friends and family. I empathize that this is extremely personal. I will honor any concerns about medical PTSD, stigma, identity (culture, religion, race, sexuality, gender). I worked as a rape crisis counselor for many years, so I know how to keep your personal information confidential; it all goes to into "the vault," and that's where it stays. I'm here to make you feel safe and seen.
Availability & Preferences
Mornings are not my best time, but my schedule is flexible.
