9/22/2023 0 Comments Methods of empathetic listening![]() ![]() To learn more about how to help those around you who live with mental illness or a substance use disorder, find a Mental Health First Aid course near you. Although you might fear making someone uncomfortable, remember that many people experiencing mental health symptoms want someone to notice them and offer support. Remember, the person in front of you shares your human condition – with all its needs, struggles and desires. By showing empathy, you can help the person in front of you calm down. Our distress increases when we feel isolated. Stay close enough to the person to show you care, but do not touch the person without asking first. Give the person in front of you enough time to express themselves. Distress often increases the speed of our speech and gestures. Focus on conveying empathy and not on changing the person or their perspective.Here are some ways to show empathy the next time you encounter someone who may be experiencing a mental health crisis: ![]() It also makes it easier for the other person to feel they can talk freely without being judged. Listening empathetically allows the listener to really hear and understand what is being said. This simple gesture validates the other person’s experience. Listening quietly, without engaging in problem-solving, signals that you are on that person’s side. The first way to diffuse a tense situation is to establish rapport with the person in distress. When someone is upset, being available to listen and show compassion is the most helpful thing you can do. “Most people experiencing distressing emotions and thoughts want an empathetic listener before being offered helpful options and resources.” Instead, it requires taking a moment to step outside of our normal patterns of thinking and feeling to imagine what it feels like to be the person in front of us. For a person experiencing a mental health problem, having an empathetic listener can be calming and reassuring – even healing.Įmpathy, unlike sympathy, does not mean we agree with the other person or see things from the same point of view. Checking information during a conversation helps ensure patients receive the correct treatments and medications.īut for situations when someone is experiencing symptoms of a mental health crisis, there is another kind of listening that can be more effective: empathetic listening. Active and empathetic listening allows you to put yourself in the shoes of the. It helps you avoid disruptive, argumentative, and judgemental conversations, and facilitates a sense of being heard and understood. For people in roles like a nurse or doctor, engaging and responding while listening is an ideal strategy. As an entrepreneur, business manager, your aim is to move your interlocutor, trigger a sale, etc. We hear a lot about active listening – listening and responding to another person to improve mutual understanding. Many of us forget that we all possess one of the most effective tools to aid someone experiencing a mental health crisis. By Mental Health First Aid USA on July 28, 2017
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