Self Advocacy and Working with your Providers

Michayla Stephens
Sep 3
5 min read

Updated: Oct 14

Even before you’re born, you have a team of healthcare providers working with you and your parents to ensure you’re healthy and developing as appropriate. Prenatal care is available in over 150 countries, according to the (World Health Organization,) and pediatric care for children and adolescents is even more prevalent. From Doctors, Nurses, and various specialists, you may think you are very well aware of who your healthcare team consists of. However, the most crucial part of your healthcare team is you. From simply showing up to your appointments to being honest about what’s going on, you are the most integral part of your healthcare team, which is why you need to advocate for yourself and work with your providers to ensure proper care.

Advocacy is the act of speaking in favor of or supporting a cause, idea, policy, or person. In the case of self-advocacy, the person would be you, and you would be speaking and acting in a way that best serves you, in terms of health, both physically, physiologically, emotionally, and socially. Advocacy, according to the (University of North Dakota,) is an important tool that allows individuals and groups to rectify and address issues, bringing forth real change. Patient self-advocacy, as studied by the (Suffolk County Government,) is crucial because it increases a patient’s ability to receive better care and have their medical concerns addressed. Self-advocacy may seem difficult, but at its core, it focuses on you becoming actively engaged in decisions about your health, and that’s easier than you may think.

When talking with your healthcare providers, the 1st step you need to take actually occurs before your appointment. Your first step to being a self-advocate is to come prepared with documentation. If you’re going for a regular check-up, bring notes on how you’ve been feeling, physically and emotionally, your dietary situation, etc. If you’re going for a specific reason, such as a new medication or a particular issue, document how things have been going, including any changes. Writing things down and coming prepared with documentation and questions you may have can ensure that when you get to the doctor, you know everything you want to be addressed.

Once you’ve documented everything and arrived at your appointment, the most important thing is to be honest. As teens, it can be challenging to say certain things, especially if your parent or guardian is present, but honesty is the best policy. Being honest and open with your providers ensures that they have the best chance of identifying any issues and addressing them effectively. If you withhold information, it can be the difference between diagnosis ‘a’ and diagnosis ‘b’ or even no diagnosis at all. Talking with your providers and explaining and elaborating information is incredibly important. Being open and honest also includes asking questions. If you don’t understand something, ask for clarification. If you wonder about potential side effects, ask about them. Asking questions and being honest with your providers ensures that everyone’s on the same page and has a shared understanding.

During the appointment, it can also be helpful to take notes. Jotting down new diagnoses, medications, or even just when your next appointment is can help you stay organized and keep track of what you should be documenting. Notes can be on paper or your phone, just make sure you’ll put them somewhere you’ll remember and keep track of them. Ensure that your notes are legible and easy to understand.

It’s also essential to recognize that you don’t have to be tied to a single provider. If you ever feel that a provider is not listening to you or not working with you effectively, discuss this with your parents and consider switching to a different provider. It is essential that your provider treats you with respect, understanding, and compassion. If they fall even a little short, it is crucial for you to recognize your worth and consider making a change.

Speaking of talking with your parents, they are just as crucial to your health and well-being as your providers. While it may be hard to listen to them, and for them to listen to you, being on the same page with your parents ensures that they can advocate for and help you when you aren't able to do so yourself.

Having grace with your parents, speaking to them respectfully but firmly, and understanding that at their core, they're likely trying to help you and make your life better are all important things to include in your conversations with them to make sure that you, nor they, get angry, lost, or rude to one another. Being honest and open with them, even when it may be embarrassing, is also important with your parents, just as it is with your providers, as they need to know what's truly going on before they can help.

Beyond self-advocating at the doctor's office, it's essential that you consistently advocate for your health, whether it’s at school, home, work, or anywhere else.

As mentioned earlier, advocating for yourself to your parents can help you set boundaries that ensure your emotional and mental health is understood and recognized. Talking and spending time with your parents every day, according to (Nemours Teens Health,) can help build trust and foster a strong connection, which can ensure you feel comfortable sharing important things with them and that they will listen.

Advocating at school to your teachers and administrators can also protect your mental and emotional health, as well as your social well-being, ensuring that classwork, tests, homework, projects, and other academic responsibilities don’t overwhelm your life. If you're being bullied or harassed at school, they could also protect your physical health.

Advocating for yourself at work can also help establish boundaries regarding your working conditions, including hours and coworkers, and, just like in school, ensure that work does not take over your life or become something you dread.

Whether you're in one of these three locations or somewhere else, it is always important for you to always be advocating for your health and to always put your health first. Prioritizing your health makes sure you're living, not just surviving, and that you're having a good time doing it.