Healing Through Connection: How Narrative Medicine Circles Support Patients and Providers Alike

BY Dr. Michelle Loy, MD, FAAP

Last year, the U.S. Surgeon General declared social isolation and loneliness as a public health emergency, drawing urgent attention to an epidemic that harms both physical and mental well-being. Studies suggest that social factors—including our relationships—impact 40% to 80% of health outcomes, making social connection a critical pillar of wellness. In fact, individuals with strong social ties have a 50% greater chance of survival than those with weaker connections, while social isolation poses risks as serious as smoking 15 cigarettes daily. In contrast, meaningful social connection and a sense of purpose are shown to be protective factors, enhancing quality of life and even increasing survival rates.

In the clinical world, narrative medicine and the medical humanities are emerging as promising approaches to foster this much-needed connection. Narrative Medicine honors the individual and collective stories of patients and clinicians, creating a framework that nurtures social bonds and meaning within a therapeutic setting. Through practices such as reflective writing, storytelling, and listening, this approach encourages individuals to share meaningful experiences, promoting both physical healing and emotional resilience.

To explore the potential of narrative medicine in healthcare settings, we developed a telehealth-based, insurance-covered group medical appointment, called the Narrative Healing Circle. This pilot program, conducted within a large academic medical center, was designed to address social isolation among a diverse patient group with serious health conditions, including cancer, chronic pain, grief, and insomnia. About half of the participants lived in underserved areas, amplifying the need for accessible and impactful support.

Each session followed a structured yet flexible format, beginning with a centering meditation and brief check-in. A thematic introduction and short writing exercise, prompted by music, poetry, or art, set the tone for reflective sharing. This time of open, supportive listening allowed participants to express deeply held emotions and rediscover parts of themselves that illness and daily challenges often obscure. After four to eight sessions, participants reported reduced feelings of anxiety, sadness, loneliness, and irritability. They also shared positive shifts in their daily lives—returning to yoga, journaling, and mindful practices like gratitude, meditation, and seeking awe.

Beyond managing symptoms, participants described the program as an "unusual” yet refreshing experience compared to traditional medical visits. They valued the equitable sharing among peers, the behavioral change tools, and the emotional support they received from both the group and their clinicians. This unique setting encouraged a sense of mutual trust and respect, fostering bonds between patients and providers that extended beyond typical clinical encounters.

The benefits of this model extended to the clinicians as well. The two physician leaders reported increased empathy, personal well-being, and job satisfaction, appreciating the shift from the rapid pace of 1:1 patient care to a more community-centered, reflective practice. From an institutional standpoint, the group format was efficient in both time and cost, suggesting a sustainable way to meet some mental health needs, particularly during a period of workforce shortages in behavioral health.

In times when many struggle to access mental health services, this group visit model holds promise as an interim support. For providers caring for patients with chronic or serious illnesses, using a narrative medicine approach in a group setting can be a powerful way to enhance patient agency, build resilience, and improve overall well-being.

Narrative Healing Circles are more than just group visits; they are a space for patients and providers to connect, share, and heal. As the healthcare landscape searches for effective, accessible solutions to the social isolation crisis, initiatives like these highlight the power of human connection. By fostering a sense of belonging and purpose, narrative medicine holds the potential to transform not only individual lives but also the fabric of community in healthcare.

Article details

Testing the Feasibility of a Newly Developed Lifestyle Practice Targeting Social Connections: Narrative Healing Circle Shared Medical Appointments
Michelle H. Loy, MD & Anne-Marie Audet, MD
First Published: October 15, 2024
DOI: 10.1177/15598276241291457
American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine

About the Author

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Dr. Michelle Loy, MD, FAAP is a nationally recognized quadruple board-certified physician who received her undergraduate degree from Harvard College, her doctorate in medicine from Weill Cornell Medical College, her pediatrics residency training from New York Presbyterian Hospital-Cornell, and her integrative medicine fellowship training from Columbia University/Stamford Hospital. She utilizes evidence-based interventions from both modern medicine and time-tested traditional modalities including nutrition, movement, acupuncture, botanicals, and mind-body medicine to prevent and manage chronic medical conditions across all age groups at Integrative Health and Well-Being-Weill Cornell Medicine. She frequently presents to physicians, patients, and the community on her clinical and research interests which include, culinary medicine, botanical medicine, cancer prevention, narrative medicine, group visits, mental health, women’s health, and children’s health. As a wife, mother, and assistant professor, she is also dedicated to supporting fellow physicians, physicians-in-training, and other leaders in self-reflection and self-care.