An Interview with Dr Janina Scarlet by Joseph Holmes
Whether you need to improve your mental This means not cutting in with advice and your
health or not, there are always people that need own experience during or afterwards. Do not
support. It is estimated that 1 in 6 people have focus on ‘fixing’ someone and making them ‘well’
experienced a mental health problem in the past as this will not help. Instead, validate their
week. One part of being able to help is to be a emotions by saying “I really understand that, I
good listener. It might seem like you are doing haven’t experienced that myself but you must be
nothing, Scarlet says, but by listening you are having a hard time and I’m here if you need
doing everything. The key to listening is just anything.” Offering and asking if you can help is
sitting back and... listening. more useful than making suggestions yourself,
his means not cutting in with advice and your everybody is different so let them tell you what
own experience during or afterwards. Do not they need.
focus on ‘fixing’ someone and making them ‘well’ If we are all good listeners and open-up about
as this will not help. Instead, validate their our own mental health, it encourages others to
emotions by saying “I really understand that, I do the same. This removes the stigma and we
haven’t experienced that myself but you must be can help manage each other's mental health
having a hard time and I’m here if you need problems. If we work together, we can make a
anything.” Offering and asking if you can help is happier world.
more useful than making suggestions yourself, Dr Janina Scarlet is proof that from trauma, you
everybody is different so let them tell you what can heal yourself and then go on to help heal
they need. others.
if you enjoyed this. you can read more interviews
an articles such as inside alcoholics anonymous
over on my website:
www.josephholmeswriter.com