Tanya
Forum Replies Created
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Monette, thank you for taking the first step in bridging the gap in the mental health community. I agree with you and your final project. As a Mental Health Coach, you should share your own experiences depending on the situation and when applicable. Remember that boundaries are important for both you and the individual but in some scenarios, showing the other person that they are not alone in mental health struggles, it helps them recognize they are not alone.
Helping others understand that mental health is not a personal defect but something that we all struggle with on some level, is the best way to break stigmas and stereotypes. I am a firm believer that education is knowledge and power. You said it best when you said to use respectful language and choosing empathy over judgement. Those will come in handy as a Mental Health Coach. I look forward to hearing all the success stories that will come from your mental health ministry.
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Elaine, I agree that it is important to understand your role and limitations as Mental Health Coach. While you cannot control someone else’s actions, as a Mental Health Coach you can provide them with the tools, resources, and education needed to make the decision that is best for them in that moment. We are not here to judge their decision, but to compassionately recognize, relate, refer, and restore.
I would encourage you to familiarize yourself with the Wellness and Brain Health page, Mischer Behavioral Health Resource Center, and Grace, our AI assistant for additional information and referral sources. Once you have given the information to the individual, it is up to them to do their part in their mental health recovery journey. Thank you for your part in bridging the gap in the mental health community.
https://gatewaytohopeuniversity.org/wellness-and-brain-health/
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Explore our Wellness and Brain Health providers to support your journey toward healthier brain habits, improved mental and behavioral health, and overall well-being.
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Gary, you fill an important hole in the mental health system by offering mental health coaching that is based in the Christian tradition of compassion. Being able to show someone the love of Christ by recognizing the mental health distress is not who they are and relating to them with grace and compassion is the most impactful part of their healing journey. Check out this valuable resource on Mental Health and the Recovery Journey.
https://learn.gthu.org/en/mental-health-and-the-recovery-journey/
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Mental Health and the Recovery Journey
Discover practical strategies for overcoming mental health challenges in addiction recovery. Learn how evidence-based tools and support networks can guide your recovery journey. Explore more at Gateway to Hope University.
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Sofia, thank you for sharing this Myth vs Fact list. I agree with every single one of them listed above. I find this one the hardest to debunk given our societies need to record or “capture the moment.”
Myth: People with mental health conditions are violent.
Fact: The vast majority of people with mental health conditions are not violent and are more likely to be victims of violence.
Often times when a person who has been struggling with mental health distress and then crosses over to a crisis state, that is what the media or the average person sees and associates as normal mental health behavior. I love how this Mental Health Coach training teaches to compassionately respond to those in mental health distress. If we can help an individual in distress and get them referred to a provider that can assist or meet their needs, instead of recording them at their lowest, we would be showing them the same grace and compassion that Christ shows us.
I agree that this starts with open conversations and education. Knowledge is power. The more individuals that we can get to have a basic understanding of mental health distress, the better we will do as a community to bridge the gap in the mental health community. For that, I strongly encourage you to share the Empower Faith Community training. It is free to take and comes with videos and resources that will help individuals create a basic understanding of recognizing, relating, referring, and restoring those in mental health distress through grace and compassion.
https://learn.gthu.org/courses/empower-for-faith-communities/
learn.gthu.org
Empower Faith Communities: Online Mental Health Training
This course will equip Faith Communities with techniques for identifying mental distress, responding compassionately, and building a network to quickly connect those in mental distress with professional care.
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Thank you for the work that you do in your community. Anxiety has a way of taking over the mind and interfering with reason. It is amazing how de-escalation techniques can calmly and effectively bring a person back to a calm state of being. In my own experience as a Mental Health Coach, I have sometimes thought, “Wow this person is really struggling. I don’t think this grounding technique is going to work.” Then each and every time I am amazed at how powerful the brain is. If left in a panic or anxious state, it will continue to process more and more of those feelings. If you get the brain to focus on something else, it slowly returns to it’s calm state and focuses on the new task at hand. Other techniques or tools that I have learned from other Mental Health Coaches include multiplication tables, naming cities or states, or the use of fidget spinners. If you find any other methods that work for you and your clients, please share. I’d love to add them to my toolkit. Thank you for bridging the gap in the mental health community.
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Hello Cynthia. Thank you for being a part of trying to end the stigma around mental health. I do believe that open communication and education are the first step in reaching that goal. In my own experience, words just aren’t enough. Even if you “provide proof or statistics” people are going to have their beliefs and that is ok. We cannot change people. I encourage you to read Grace for the Afflicted or Madness & Grace by Matthew S. Stanford, PhD. These books offer a clinical and biblical perspective on mental illness and the history of the church bridging the gap in the mental health community. Madness & Grace is also a foundational component to our Mental Health Coach training. These resources will give you a better understanding of the long standing stigma that mental health has carried and how other faith communities have broken that very same stigma within their communities. I look forward to hearing how God is going to use your ministry to break more stigmas in your community. Thank you for bridging the gap in the mental health community.
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Being in a faith community that understands mental health distress and creates a safe place for healing and growth is so important in the healing journey. I encourage you to read Madness & Grace by Matthew S. Stanford, PhD. It was the basis of our Mental Health Coach training course and it has great information on building a mental health ministry, success stories from other churches that have implemented a mental health ministry and how to cultivate a safe environment to do so. I look forward to hearing your success stories and how your MHC ministry has grown. Thank you for taking the first step in bridging the gap in the mental health community.
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Lauren, yes I agree that de-escalation and grounding techniques are vital in mental health coaching. I firmly believe in giving individuals the tools and the resources they need to understand their struggles, re-gain control of their emotions, and navigate those emotions in a healthy way. There are many forms of de-escalation and grounding techniques. What method has worked best for you?
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Holly, no you cannot control the actions of others but you can control your response to others. Being able to understand that you are not responsible for how others respond is a big first step. I also believe that being able to have a list of providers or resources available is beneficial. While an individual may not be willing to accept help from you or your organization, they may be willing to accept a referral somewhere else.
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Carla, I think having clear boundaries is important as a Mental Health Coach. It helps you to understand your limits as well as your role in the situation. While it is not your job to fix the individual, it is your role to help them on their mental health journey as much or as little as they will allow. Understanding their comfort level as well is important in respecting their boundaries. Once that level of respect and trust is built, the healing journey will progress. Thank you for taking the first step in bridging the mental health gap by becoming a mental health coach.
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Jackie, I think one of the best resources you have to help clients build resilience, is the reImagine workbook provided in the Mental Health Coach training. The workbook is designed to treat the person as a whole and help provide them with the tools and resources needed on their mental health journey. As a Mental Health Coach, I suggest you familiarize yourself with it, in order to best utilize this workbook with your clients. If you are interested in learning more about how to use this material in a one-on-one setting or how to use it in a support group setting, check out this training for more information. Thank you for bridging the gap in the mental health community.
learn.gthu.org
Support Group Training - Gateway to Hope University
Introduction to Support Group Training Many people find peer support a helpful tool that can aid in their recovery. Support groups are offered as a safe space where individuals can come together to share their stories, experiences, and lives in … Continue reading
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Delainey, I encourage you to explore the foundational book behind our Mental Health Coach Training by Dr. Matthew Stanford, Madness & Grace. It offers powerful insights and practical guidance for building a mental health ministry within your faith community and success stories from other organization just like yours. This book is filled with valuable information and resources that will help you in your journey. Thank you for taking the first step of becoming a Mental Health Coach and bridging the gap in the mental health community.
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Thank you for sharing Catalina. I loved how you said that your organization incorporates mental health check-ins. That is a great way to break the stigma surrounding mental health distress and encourages others to practice these simple check-ins. If we can teach individuals how to stop and listen to their bodies / mental health, they can seek treatment or support earlier. Thank you for serving with compassion and showing those struggling with mental health distress, Christ’s love. If Gateway to Hope University can be of assistance to you in any way, please let us know. We look forward to hearing your testimonies of success in your community.
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Hi Amy! I love your heart and passion for those struggling with mental health distress. If you haven’t already, I encourage you to check out the foundational book behind our Mental Health Coach Training, Madness & Grace. Written by Dr. Matthew Stanford, Madness & Grace offers powerful insights and practical guidance for supporting those in emotional and spiritual distress and even covers how to build a mental health ministry within your faith community. It has great success stories from churches that have launched their mental health ministry and the impact it has had on their church and community. I look forward to reading all of the wonderful stories and testimonies that will come from your ministry. Thank you for taking the step to bridge the gap in the mental health community.
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Ann, I love this. Being a part of a team that can collectively work together to better serve your clients is a blessing. Advocating with love is a great way to break through the barriers most people have when seeking help. When individuals feel heard and validated, they are more likely to accept the resources provided to them. I would also suggest that if they have any difficulties accessing those referrals, that you encourage them to notify you. This allows you to gage which referrals work, the ones that are full or no longer accepting new referrals, or those that do not meet the needs of the individual. If you need access to any resources or referrals, feel free to check out our Mischer Behavioral Health Resource Center or The Hope Line at 832-831-7337. Both are great resources to us and share with your clients.
https://gatewaytohopeuniversity.org/mischer-behavioral-health/
gatewaytohopeuniversity.org
Mischer Behavioral Health Resource Center: Support & Tools
Discover resources to overcome behavioral health challenges and addiction. Chat with Grace, our friendly AI assistant, for personalized support and information.
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