Seeing a therapist can be daunting for many people. Aside from the stigma attached, patients can have other worries. Taking that first step towards getting help isn’t always easy, but there are ways to address people’s fears and anxieties regarding therapy.
Staying local
When seeking therapy, individuals might be put off by the distance they have to travel, and it’s important to reduce any potential barriers which might deter them. They might search for professional help using terms such as psychiatric nurse practitioner near me. Another important requirement is finding someone qualified. So, if you choose to work in your local community and have relevant qualifications such as those offered by Wilkes University, you already match some requirements.
Making patients feel comfortable is important. Belonging to the same community is one way of doing that. Even if you don’t share their experiences, you will better understand the extra help and resources available and how certain things in the community might make it easier or harder for them. Having a local connection can also make you feel like less of a stranger to them, which is crucial if they struggle to trust people or find it difficult to talk about personal issues with people they don’t know.
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Listening to them
Letting patients explain their concerns in their own words can help you address each one. Explain how these concerns don’t pose as big an issue as they think and how you plan to help; it’s important to show this in the help you give them. For example, if a patient has an underlying concern about losing control of their life, you may be tempted to present them with solutions to their problems. However, listening and talking through options allows them to choose one or more and gives them back some control. Even if it doesn’t turn out right, offering them the support and choices they need is important.
Talking through their anxieties
Many people deal with their anxieties by avoiding triggering situations and trying not to think about them. This is often detrimental and causes the problem to spiral. While it is difficult at first, talking about them in detail can help in the long term. Encouraging your patients to openly express their worries and talk to someone, working through the worst ‘what if’ scenarios while discussing what would happen next and how they would cope, can prepare them for the worst case. This can make them feel more prepared to deal with potential problems, alleviating some of their concerns. If they know that no matter what, they have a plan of action, the situation won’t seem like as much of a threat or problem. It is not always possible to ease all the anxieties a patient may have, but putting them at ease, giving them a voice to air their concerns, and preparing them can all play an important part in reducing their worries.
