How To Encourage A Loved One To Seek Professional Therapy Services For Mental Health Problems

Therapy has been shown to be beneficial to people with issues that range from anxiety to depression, to substance abuse problems and phobias, especially if there are good group therapy activities. But a lot of people are reluctant to seek professional counseling services for different reasons. The good news is that there are many ways of introducing the topic of therapy to someone you know that may be dithering to go to a therapist.

These methods enable you to broach the subject without causing embarrassment or shame to that loved one. Mastering the art of doing so unobtrusively is critical to being successful to get your friend or loved one the help that they need. Once you have convinced them to seek help, they will find a variety of group activities for adults to cure them.

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Broaching The Topic

Start From An Empathetic And A Caring Point

You should aim at being as nonjudgmental and compassionate as you can. This enables you to encourage the patient to take better care of themselves and seek help.

Choose The Right Place And Time

You are best off with your luck if you choose a quiet time of the day. This ensures you can talk directly with them without them being distracted by other things. Look for place and time that is:

  • Private, without people eavesdropping
  • Quiet, with no distractions, and if there are any tasks, they need to be automatic, e.g. doing dishes and folding.
  • Calm,where there are no major tasks to do, and where nobody feels emotional. This will make the person be more receptive.

Tell The Person What You’ve Noticed That Concerns You

Tell the person what you’ve observed in them, and be careful not to add judgment. Only tell them the patterns that have grabbed your attention and worried you. For instance, you might say something like:

“Martin, I’ve noticed that lately, you’ve been eating too much and also sleeping late. You also move slowly with a frown on your face when you come out of the room.“

Emphasize That You Care

Make it clear how much the person matters to you, and also that you care about their feelings. Some people get defensive when their symptoms have been spotted. At other times, people may be fooled into believing that they don’t need help. It’s critical to reiterate that the only reason you are bringing the issue up is that their wellbeing is important to you.

Moot Therapy As One Way To Help

While therapy is far from being a quick fix, it has been proven to improve things over time. If you have benefitted from therapy, talk about how it has helped you. Also, emphasize that there are interesting activities for adults in group therapies, and that it’s not boring.

If The Person Is Receptive, Offer Help

If you see that the person has admitted that they are struggling, they are likely to be confused or feel lost about making things better. It also could be that they have certain things they want but don’t know how to ask for them. You can facilitate that by asking them what they need and suggesting that there are effective group therapy activities for them.

A Reluctant Person Requires A Great Deal Of Patience

Some people fear therapy, not because of group activities for adults but are just not ready to accept they have a problem. Continue helping them out, being there for them, and never tiring of sowing compassion.

Seek Help If You Fear About Their Safety

Depending on the kind of illness and how severe it is, you may be concerned that the person’s safety or life is at stake.

  • If the person in question is a teenager or a child, you may want to talk to their guardians or parent, or school counselor. Adults can intervene before it is too late.
  • Seek emergency services if you think the person will hurt themselves.

Encouraging A Person Who Stigmatizes Therapy

Make It Clear To Your Loved One That Their Feelings Are Completely Understandable

It doesn’t matter the kind of problem that your loved one is suffering from. Whether is a mental disorder, hard time, or addiction, the first thing you want to do is to tell them that what they feel is completely normal. This is a crucial step to distancing therapy from stigmas. Remind them that people of their nationality, gender, ethnicity, or age can attend group therapy activities without shame or stigma.

Remind Them That Their Problems Are Linked To Medical Conditions

Anxiety, depression, and phobias are all kinds of medical problems. Addiction is also a medical condition. Medical problems are common in people from one time to another, there is nothing wrong with seeking treatment.

Tell them that therapy is just like seeing a normal doctor for any other ailment, especially with interesting activities for adults at these facilities. Ask them if they would avoid seeking a physician if they had lung or heart problems.

Emphasize That It’s Common And Normal To Get Help

Studies show that 27% of American adults have sought and got one type of mental health treatment or another. It is about 80 million people, so there is nothing unique in their case. Reiterate that people from all walks of life are taking up group therapy activities to heal from different mental health problems.

Reassure them that you are there for them, no matter what. Let them know that would not think less of them for requiring help.

Let Them Know That You Are Behind Them 100%

Never tire of reassuring them that you still respect them despite everything. If you would like, tell them that it’s a great act of courage to seek help.

Conclusion

While there are nice activities for adults in therapy settings, some people may still be reluctant to seek professional help. As someone that cares, the duty of convincing them to see a therapist might be placed on your shoulders. The most important thing is to be empathetic to their plight and remain as nonjudgmental as possible. Also, tell them that you care for them and that’s why you want them to seek help. If you are dealing with older people, reassure them that group therapy activities have been designed specifically for people of their age.

Otherwise, call professionals at Kentucky Mental Health Clinic to help. We are on call 24/7 and have some of the best well-trained psychiatrists in the country. Call us today.

If you are interested in even more lifestyle-related articles and information from us here at Bit Rebels, then we have a lot to choose from.

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