Today we’d like to introduce you to Terri Vanderlinde.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I am a Board Certified Obstetrician/Gynecologist who is currently practicing only office-based Gynecology. After 30 years of a busy career, I am slowing down my medical practice; I have given up Obstetrics and more recently stopped doing surgery. I had to make those tough business and personal decisions to not deliver babies due to the exorbitant malpractice premiums; I gave up being a surgeon for lifestyle choices of not being on call every 3rd night and every 3rd weekend. I was well trained and worked over 110 hours per week for 8 years in the military sector. Upon resigning my Army Medical Officer commission, I became part of an OB-GYN group practice in Portsmouth, NH in 1997. In 2001, we had a parting of the ways due to philosophy over patient care and schedule timing. And here is where my present business story begins.
I started my own solo GYN practice in April 2012 to avoid being forced to see complex OB patients in 5 minutes and annual GYN patients with a myriad of problems and questions in only 20 minutes. I wanted more time to spend getting to know my patients, hearing about their life issues and personal struggles. I have always practiced patient-centered shared-decision making for every treatment I suggest. I also give patients permission to be selfish on occasion and take care of themselves. I start every treatment plan discussing healthy diet, vitamins, supplements and frequent exercising. I now offer 45 minutes as an average visit time. All counseling appointments are at the end of the day and often last more than 60 minutes.
This Integrative approach to the whole person is how I have always practiced, and now even more so! My medical practice started out in York, ME but moved to Dover, NH in 2008 when I had the opportunity to join in the Journey to Wellness Medical Center. We have many Alternative Health and Treatment Modalities as well as a comprehensive Herbal Pharmacy and healthy Organic restaurant attached to our office building. I see GYN patients in my practice which I now share with a Family Practice Nurse Practitioner practice called, My Friend’s Gynecologist and Primary Care for Women. We have an informative monthly newsletter and 2 great websites that have lots of excellent advice in general for everyone.
In 2015 I graduated from a two year Fellowship Program in Medical Sexual Counseling. I went through hundreds of hours of reading, coursework and was supervised throughout the whole process while learning to counsel patients. I hold an AASECT Certification which I must keep current by attending conferences and updating courses to keep on the cutting edge of the field. I have always been passionate about women’s health, and sexual health in particular. It’s a fun topic that I am fully comfortable and open to discuss anything a patient has on her mind. I believe I have much to offer any woman or couple who is struggling with sexual concerns. Even couples who have a good sex life, if they have been together for a long while, enjoy hearing some new ideas and permission to spice it up a bit!
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It seems like it was ALL struggles. And it seems like it is still much struggling. Running a medical practice is harder than any surgery, delivery, or complicated patient I have ever encountered! I am a doctor, I never wanted to be a business woman. The state of health care insurance, high deductibles, high premiums, required referrals, non-coverage of necessary testing and other obstacles are a huge administrative stumbling block to getting patients in the door.
Even though I have all this training, and I am one of the ONLY Sex Counselors in all of New England, it is challenging to get people to make an appointment. There is still much fear and shame around the topic of sexual problems. The other main struggle is to get a woman’s partner into the office to participate in the counseling and contribute to the solutions. Sex is a “team sport” and requires everyone reading off the same play book. But like asking directions, many men are sure they are fine and have no interest in sharing their feelings about sex. They typically just want more of it and for me to “fix” their partner’s low desire. Also, they don’t like to admit that there might be something wrong with them or how they are doing things. It is often hard to change habits, but given the right parameters, it can be fun, healthy, stimulating and sexy to change!
I am grateful for this opportunity to let the Greater Boston Area be aware that there is help out here for any question about sex. You just need to ask, get a referral, check if we’re in network, then drive up past the North Shore. Simple, right?
Another thing I love to do is Public Speaking on female health, sexual desire, and any GYN or Sex related topic. I have plans to do some Radio and TV shows as a guest speaker. I am creating some women’s retreat themes that can be a day of sharing and caring. I hope to get the word out to as many older women as possible that sex does not have to hurt. We can fix that! Women must have a big say in their relationship, and total say over their bodies. Those of us in the AARP age range were brought up to not speak about sex to anyone, ever, because “good girls” didn’t do that. There is a lot of unlearning and freedom that can come from some sound medical advice and a well-trained listener.
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Dr. Terri V. Medical Sex Counseling – what should we know?
It has always been a HUGE problem that a very high percentage of my (only female) patients of all ages complain about Low Sexual Desire. I have always wished that I could offer them more answers and improved sexual pleasure. So much so, that I decided to complete 2 year Fellowship training, with a year of supervision by 3 respected Sex Therapists in 2014 & ‘15. I am one of only a very few medical people who holds this title in all of New England; there are very few of us in the world. I believe that I have something unique, special and wonderful to offer women and their partners to help with their general happiness and well-being in a non-threatening, highly effective manner.
I am now an AASECT Certified Sexuality Counselor. I am NOT a therapist. A therapist holds a PhD in psychology. I have Medical Degree, therefore I am qualified to be a Medical Sex “Counselor”. Now I see female patients and their partners on a regular basis to help them discover a more fun, pleasurable and fulfilling sex life. Increasing frequency is not a goal in and of itself, but it biomes a natural consequence after addressing all the issues. We discuss feelings of mistrust after an affair, freezing up due to a history of abuse, pornography problems, polyamorous relationships, and kink or BSDM (Bondage-Discipline/Dominant-Submissive/Sado-Masichism) among other things. I am not qualified to handle sex addiction, nor sex-offender issues. This requires a true Therapist. We have only one in Portland, ME, and one in Portsmouth, NH. There are MANY Sex Therapists in and around the Boston Area, but no other Medical Counselors.
I often find that the couple does not have a “sex” problem per se, but that Low Desire is merely a Symptom of something ELSE going on Medically, Emotionally, Physically, Intellectually or Spiritually. So from all these angles we discuss the potential changes that women may do simply to improve their general health and well-being. Often we adjust medication doses, or fix vaginal dryness / pain, help heal some past trauma, or give the couple some better communication skills. Most importantly we practice skills with fun homework between visits. Sometimes it means just scheduling date nights, more often if means digging really deeply to touch painful feelings of resentment and anger that have been building up for years, then working to improve the situation with loving kindness and productive communication.
A typical visit is a 60 minute meeting in person every couple weeks for about 4 visits. The counseling is meant to be Short-Term, Cognitive-Behavioral, and goal oriented. Most couples get all they need to meet their needs in just a few sessions. We will involve Marriage Counselors, and Individual & Family Therapists as needed. It is NOT my job to keep a couple together, it is to make them aware of their issues and help them to resolve those problems so that their sex life may benefit. The visit is like seeing a psychologist, where there is NO exam done, NO sex observed, only discussed. I sometimes incorporate Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy, medications for vaginal muscle relaxation, creams for vaginal dryness, and even a “4D – Wheel” spiritual technique to help clear out past traumas and heal more fully from within. We attempt to allow for a shift in consciousness to happen where a person can shed old beliefs and replace them with healthy new ideas.
Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
Integrity. Honesty. Passion. Experience. Skills.
High quality. compassionate, comprehensive medical care.
Consistent, helpful patient service.
Pricing:
- Most all visits can be billed to your insurance company, IF you have a referral, and IF I am in your Network.
- Otherwise we charge $250 per visit out of pocket cost
- For patients from the Boston area, the first one or two visits must be in person.
- after which, we might be able to use a HIPAA secure video chat platform called V See from the comfort of your own home for subsequent sessions
Contact Info:
- Address: 839 Central Ave.
Suite One
Dover, NH 03820 - Website: www.DrTerriV.com www.BestGyn.com
- Phone: 603-516-0000
- Email: info@DrTerriV.com info@BestGyn.com
- Facebook: yes, facebook for Dr. Terri V. and My Friend’s Gynecologist don’t know the URL’s or how to get that
