Patient vs. Client: Why Language Shapes Your Health Journey

Does calling yourself a “patient” keep you passive in your health? Learn why shifting to a “client” mindset can transform your results.

In this episode, Dr. Tamar Lawful explores the powerful difference between seeing yourself as a patient versus a client. Words shape identity, and identity shapes behavior, so the labels we use in healthcare matter. Through real examples and client stories, Dr. Lawful reveals how adopting a client mindset helps you take ownership, ask better questions, and engage more actively in your care. This simple but profound shift can turn you from a passive participant into the CEO of your own health journey.

WHAT YOU’LL LEARN IN THIS EPISODE

• The hidden meaning of “patient” and how it can keep you stuck
• Five key behaviors that shift when you see yourself as a client
• A real success story of transforming health with a client mindset
• Practical steps to start showing up differently in your care

Chapters

• 0:00 The Problem with Modern Healthcare
• 1:37 Patient vs. Client: Why Words Matter
• 5:24 Five Behaviors of Health-Empowered Clients
• 7:54 Success Story: Marissa's Transformation
• 10:01 Answering Common Questions
• 12:27 Your Challenge & Call to Action

Transcript

Speaker 1: 0:02

Medications certainly have their place, but what if there was a way to support your body naturally by working with your genetics? We are a pill for an ill society. We take 18 pills per person, per American, per day. It was so hard to find somebody who took my insurance and for me to get well it took thousands of dollars and and I thought what do regular people do? This is not right. Despite my best efforts, I wasn't actually reversing disease and helping people to heal in the way that I thought I would.

Speaker 1: 0:32

We want to empower yourselves to take care of this root cause. We don't just want to cover it up. If you're ready to break free from outdated, one-size-fits-all health care, you're in the right place. Welcome to Raise the Script with Nutrigenomics brought to you by InHer Glow®, by LYFE Balance. Here's a literature from. We are all unique, right down to our DNA, so it's no wonder we respond differently to the same medications, foods and environments. How do you discover what your body needs? Which medications, foods, supplements? How do you discover what your body needs, which medications, foods, supplements or exercises are right for you? How can you manage chronic conditions without piling on more prescriptions? That's what we're here to explore. I'm your host, Dr. Tamar Lawful, doctor of pharmacy, nutrigenomics specialist, and your partner in reimagining how we personalize care for better outcomes. Whether you're a patient or a practitioner, let's raise the script and bring healthcare to higher levels together, because the future of health is personal. Welcome back to Raise the Script with Nutrigenomics. I'm your host, Dr. Tamar Lawful, Doctor of Pharmacy and Certified Nutritional Genomics Specialist.

Speaker 1: 1:47

Today I want to have a conversation that might seem like it's just about words, but it's really about identity, empowerment and results. The question is are you a patient or are you a client? Now you might be thinking, does it even matter? Aren't they basically the same thing? But the truth is the word you choose changes the way you see yourself in your health journey. It changes how you show up. It changes whether you're a passive passenger or the CEO of your own wellness. So today I'm going to share why I call the people I work with clients, not patients, and how that one small shift can completely change the trajectory on your health.

Speaker 1: 2:32

Let me take you back to when this first clicked for me. I was in a coaching program years ago, surrounded by other professionals, when one of my coaches looked at me and asked why do you call them patients. Are they helpless or are they partners? The question stopped me in my tracks because, in pharmacy, patient is the word we're trained to use. It's printed on every chart, based into every policy, even written into the laws that guide what we do. But the more I thought about it, the more I realized something important the word patient carries a subtle but powerful message.

Speaker 1: 3:11

Patient comes from a Latin word that means one who suffers. It's a term that makes sense in an acute medical setting. You know, you break your leg, you need urgent care, you're temporarily dependent on someone to fix it. But when we apply that same identity to long-term health and prevention, it can actually work against us. Why? Because it implies waiting, it implies passivity, it implies that someone else is responsible for the outcome. And that's not the energy I want anyone to bring to their health journey, not in my programs.

Speaker 1: 3:46

When I think about the people I serve, I want them to feel capable, powerful, involved, like they have a say in the process and a hand on the steering wheel. That's why I started calling them clients. A client is someone who shows up, someone who invests in the process, someone who partners with their team. Think about working with a personal trainer. Okay, they don't lift the weights for you, do they? They guide you, coach you and help you improve your form, but you do the reps. That's the same energy I want people to bring into their health journey.

Speaker 1: 4:20

When you adopt the client mindset, you're no longer waiting to be fixed. You're collaborating, you're making decisions, you're part of the solution. Here's why the patient mindset can hold us back, especially with chronic or complex conditions. When you see yourself as a patient, you're more likely to do four things. You're going to wait passively for someone to fix you. You may even avoid asking questions. You're going to second guess your instincts and you're going to feel powerless if the plan doesn't work and that often leads to stagnation. You're less likely to make proactive changes. You might give up when you hit roadblocks. You could even start believing that your health is out of your control. But when you see yourself as a client, you show up curious, you ask better questions, you track your progress, you experiment, you make adjustments, and that energy, that active role, can completely change your results. All right, so we talked about why the shift from patient to client matters, but let's make it really practical. Because here's the thing a mindset shift is only powerful if it actually changes what you do day to day. It's not about thinking differently, it's about showing up differently. So let's break this down into five key behaviors. I see change when someone truly embraces being the client not just the patient in their health journey.

Speaker 1: 5:50

First, you prepare for your appointments. Patients often show up with the mindset of I'll just see what they tell me. Clients come in with a list, systems tracked, questions ready, lab results reviewed. You're not just there to receive information, you're ready to contribute. There to receive information. You're ready to contribute. Second, you ask clarifying questions. Patients might nod and leave still unsure about the plan. Clients say can you explain how this medication works with my genetics or what are the side effects I should watch for? Third, you track and report back. Patients may assume the provider will figure things out over time. Clients keep records blood sugar logs, symptom journals, sleep patterns and bring that data to guide the next step. Fourth, you challenge passivity. Patients wait until the next appointment to bring up issues. Clients email, call or schedule a check-in when something feels off, because waiting weeks or months isn't acceptable when it's your health on the line. And now a lot of medical practices use apps that make it very easy for you to communicate with your doctor and leave messages. So don't be passive when it comes to your health. Reach out to your doctor, ask those questions, bring up the issues and, last, you own your lifestyle choices as a client. Patients might say I can't help it, it's genetic. Clients say if my genes increase my risk, what changes can I make to work with them instead of against them? You recognize that daily decisions food, movement, sleep, stress are in your control.

Speaker 1: 7:34

I want to tell you about Marissa. When Marissa came to me, she was anxious about her prediabetes. Her dad had experienced severe complications, ended up on insulin and eventually losing a toe. She told me right away just tell me what to do. That's a very normal starting point. It's how most of us are conditioned to approach healthcare. But I looked at her and I said what if you stepped into this as a client instead of a patient? I'll guide you, but you're going to be steering the ship.

Speaker 1: 8:03

She hesitated at first. She wasn't used to being in that role, but slowly she leaned in. She'd be on track in her blood sugar every day. She started asking about her genetic risk. She experimented with improving her sleep and managing stress no-transcript. Six months later she had lost 20 pounds, her A1C was back in a normal range and, maybe most importantly, she saw herself differently. She wasn't just someone with prediabetes anymore. She was strong, capable and in charge of her health. That's a client mindset in action. Friend Language shapes identity and identity shapes behavior. If you believe you're broken, you'll wait to be fixed. If you believe you're capable, you'll act like it. In precision health, especially with tools like nutrigenomics, that distinction is huge. No one else can live out your genetic blueprint for you. You're the one who decides how you'll express your genes, what habits you'll build and what environment you'll create for your body to thrive.

Speaker 1: 9:15

Now I know some people hear client and think it sounds corporate or transactional, but for me it's about respect and partnership. Being a client means you have a seat at the table. Your input matters. You're seen as a whole person, not just a diagnosis or a chart number. That's not cold, that's empowering.

Speaker 1: 9:36

Now I know the shift from patient to client can feel a little abstract at first and you might already have questions popping into your mind, things like isn't client just a business word? Or what if my doctor doesn't like me asking so many questions? Or even okay, tomorrow I get it. But how do I actually start making that shift? So let's slow it down for a minute and tackle some of the most common questions I hear when I talk about this mindset change. Let's go back to that first question Isn't client just a business term? Doesn't it make healthcare feel transactional? I get that concern, but for me, client isn't about a transaction. It's about partnership. It means you have a seat at the table, your voice matters and you're valued as a whole person, not just a diagnosis. Second question what if my provider doesn't like me asking too many questions? A good provider will welcome your questions, friend, if they seem resistant. Remember you have the right to understand and participate in your own care. You can frame your questions respectfully, but don't let discomfort keep you silent. And last, I've always been a passive patient.

Speaker 1: 10:50

How do I start shifting into a client mindset? Start small. Write down one question before your next appointment. Track one health metric your energy level, for example, your sleep, your symptoms. Use that as your talking point. The shift happens in small, consistent steps. And remember those five key behaviors I just discussed those five key behaviors that shift when you move from patient to client. Do those five things. Apply those five behaviors. That's how you can make that shift into a client mindset.

Speaker 1: 11:25

And this shift applies even in traditional healthcare spaces like the pharmacy counter. Normally you walk in, drop off your prescription and leave right Quick, efficient and completely one-sided You're the patient. But what if you approach that interaction as a client? You might ask about side effects you've been experiencing. You might discuss the supplements you take. You might ask if your genetics can influence how this medication works for you. You take notes on the guidance you get and track how you respond. That's not just a transaction, that's a partnership, and partnerships create better outcomes. So here's your challenge this week If you're a health professional, listen to the language you use.

Speaker 1: 12:06

Are you inviting people into ownership of their health or are you unintentionally reinforcing passivity? If you're on your own health journey, pay attention to when you slip into patient mode. Catch yourself when you're waiting to be told what to do. Then ask what's one step I can take to partner in my own results today? Even one small shift asking a question, tracking a symptom, adjusting the habit can start changing the way you see yourself. Because once you see yourself as a client, you stop outsourcing your health, you step up, you lead and you get better results.

Speaker 1: 12:45

I know this episode was short, friend, but if it made you think differently about your role in your health, hit, follow and subscribe so you don't miss future conversations like this and share it with someone you know might need the reminder that they are the CEO of their wellness. If you're ready to step fully into that role, I'd love to partner with you through LYFE Balance. Connect with me on Instagram at Dr. Tamar Lawful and book a discovery consultation with me by visiting wwwthelyfebalancecom-Y-F-E balance. com. Where lyfe stands for, love yourself first every day, because you're not just a patient. You are not waiting to be rescued. You are the leader of your health journey. Talk to you next Friday, friends. Until then, always remember to raise the script on health, because together we can bring healthcare to higher levels. Raise the Script with. Nutrigenomics is a production of In Her® Glow by LYFE Balance.