How to Coach Yourself and Others Coaching and Counseling in Difficult Circumstances | Page 20

This book is in B&W, not color - Print page in Grayscale for Correct view! How should I approach someone who may be experiencing psychotic symptoms? People developing a psychotic disorder will often not reach out for help. Someone who is experiencing profound and frightening changes such as psychotic symptoms will often try to keep them a secret. If you are concerned about someone, approach the person in a caring and non-judgemental manner to discuss your concerns. The person you are trying to help might not trust you or might be afraid of being perceived as “different”, and therefore may not be open with you. If possible, you should approach the person privately about their experiences in a place that is free of distractions. - Try to tailor your approach and interaction to the way the person is behaving (e.g. if the person is suspicious and is avoiding eye contact, be sensitive to this and give them the space they need). - Do not touch the person without their permission. - You should state the specific behaviours you are concerned about and should not speculate about the person’s diagnosis. It is important to allow the person to talk about their experiences and beliefs if they want to. As far as possible, let the person set the pace and style of the interaction. - You should recognise that they may be frightened by their thoughts and feelings. Ask the person about what will help them to feel safe and in control. - Reassure them that you are there to help and support them, and that you want to keep them safe. If possible, offer the person choices of how you can help them so that they are in control. - Convey a message of hope by assuring them that help is available and things can get better. - If the person is unwilling to talk with you, do not try to force them to talk about their experiences. - Rather, let them know that you will be available if they would like to talk in the future. How can I be supportive? Treat the person with respect. You should try to empathise with how the person feels about their beliefs and experiences, without stating any judgments about the content of those beliefs and experiences. The person may be behaving and talking differently due to psychotic symptoms. They may also find it difficult to tell what is real from what is not real. You should avoid confronting the person and should not criticise or blame them. Understand the symptoms for what they are and try not to take them personally. Do not use sarcasm and try to avoid using patronising statements. It is important that you are honest when interacting with the person. Do not make any promises that you cannot keep. How do I deal with delusions (false beliefs) and hallucinations (perceiving things that are not real)? It is important to recognise that the delusions and hallucinations are very real to the person. You should not dismiss, minimise or argue with the person about their delusions or hallucinations. Similarly, do not act alarmed, horrified or embarrassed by the person’s delusions or hallucinations. You should not laugh at the person’s symptoms of psychosis. If the person exhibits paranoid behaviour, do not encourage or inflame the person’s paranoia. How do I deal with communication difficulties? People experiencing symptoms of psychosis are often unable to think clearly. You should respond to disorganised speech by communicating in an uncomplicated and succinct manner, and should repeat things if necessary. After you say something, you should be patient and allow plenty of time for the person to process the information and respond. If the person is showing a limited range of feelings, you should be aware that it does not mean that the person is not feeling anything. Likewise, you should not assume the person cannot understand what you are saying, even if their response is limited. For [email protected] Property of Bookemon, do NOT distribute 22