Tanya
Forum Replies Created
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Cecilia, I love your use of music as a de-escalation technique. As a Mental Health Coach, I often play soft Christian music in the background when hosting a group or session. I find that music has a way of calming people or it also has a way of speaking to / connecting with people. Many times I have had a person say, “Wow that music is on point today. It really speaks to what I am going through right now.” The use of aroma therapy is also a great grounding technique. The other grounding techniques mentioned work well. They distract the brain from the emotions at hand and get the individual to refocus on the present moment. I look forward to hearing what other de-escalation techniques you find helpful as a Mental Health Coach.
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Grounding techniques are very important, Taylor. As humans we feel things so intensely sometimes that it disrupts our thinking patterns. Being able to have several tried and true techniques that you are comfortable implementing is important as a Mental Health Coach. It may take more than 1 technique to calm a person down or get them to refocus on the matter at hand. I have also read about another MHCs adding fidget spinner to their toolkit. Having the individual do a task while expressing their emotions can also help ground them and keep the emotions under control. If you try any other techniques, I’d love to hear them.
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Linda, I agree that far too often we reply with, “I’m good, how are you?” instead of sharing how we are actually feeling. In rare instances will you have someone answer honestly. As a Mental Health Coach, I long for a day when we normalize honestly and vulnerability instead of putting on the brave face we are so used to doing. In sharing our struggles, we will often find common ground that leads to empathy and compassion. As a Mental Health Coach, you have the opportunity to allow others the space needed to be open, honest, and find a path to healing. I look forward to hearing how your work as a Mental Health Coach will impact the community in which you serve.
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As a Mental Health Coach, setting clear boundaries for you and the person in mental health distress is crucial. You have to remember that you are there to help those in need, not fix them. I understand this struggle and can relate to how difficult it can be in the beginning in setting those boundaries and keeping them. Maintaining a safe space and going over those boundaries at the start of each session can help in keeping this at the forefront for both you and the individual you are coaching. Thank you for taking the step to become as a Mental Health Coach and the impact you are having in the mental health community.
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Jaime, first of all I would like to applaud you for taking the steps needed to find healing for your own trauma and doing the hard work needed to be the best version of yourself. Using your own story to connect with others is going to be one of the best tools you can have as a Mental Health Coach. While your story may not the be same as some of the refugees you work with, understanding the strength and the courage it takes to seek help, will help those individuals relate to you. As you work to build your referral network, you may want to check out the resources available on the GTHU website. You may be able to find resources in your area that will be of benefit to you and those you serve in your community.
https://gthu.org/mischer-behavioral-health/
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Naomi, it is such a blessing to be able to partner with an organization that is already established within the community. Can you share what other mental health resources or practices, the organization has in place and how this training is expected to compliment those practices? As the Community Education Manager, I love to hear how organizations plan to incorporate our training into their organizations.
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Sharon, taking a stand and speaking up against stigma can be very intimidating. I agree that being intentional, leaving judgment out of the conversation, and showing compassion are three important factors in breaking stigma. As you begin to do that in your faith community, you will begin to find more allies than foes. Thank you for fighting against the stigma and silence surrounding mental health. I look forward to reading your success stories as you begin your journey as a Mental Health Coach.
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Veronica, lowering your voice is a powerful de-escalation tool. In my experience, individuals will raise their voice to try to get their point across. So if as a Mental Health Coach you lower your voice and keep your composure, the individual will match your tone. Just because you are using one technique, it does not mean that you cannot use multiple techniques at once. Adding in validation and reaffirmation of their feelings, significant progress can be made in de-escalating the situation. I’d like to hear some of the other de-escalation techniques you have used in the past.
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Nathan, as a Mental Health Coach and someone who has spent several years interacting with individuals, I can tell you that no matter what I had planned for a session, sometimes it pans out and more often then not, I have allowed the individual’s need to lead the session. As a person of faith myself, I have learned that Jesus never pushed faith on anyone. He met individuals where they were and allowed grace and compassion lead them to repentance. I try to model that in my interactions with individuals. Being able to give those you coach the space needed to talk through the tough situation they are facing and giving them access to multiple resources to make the best decision for them, that is your role as a Mental Health Coach. After the session is over, make sure that you have a healthy way to decompress and not carry the burden of someone else’s decision. This is important in avoiding burnout as a Mental Health Coach. Thank you for your work in the mental health community.
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Building connections and inroads within the Hispanic community is desperately needed. Minority communities are vastly affected by mental health distress, lack of resources, and stigma surrounding mental health. Being able to create those connections and build referral networks, would be a great asset as a Mental Health Coach. In such communities, having multiple ways to share that information is also needed. Not everyone is tech savvy, or has the means to access resources digitally. Thank you for taking the first step in bridging the gap in the mental health community. I look forward to hearing all the wonderful stories of the impact, you will have in your community.
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Sandy, your plan to get people talking is very well thought out. I do agree that a multi-faceted approach is the most beneficial. While some individuals will respond to education and awareness, others will not. Education is key in creating an understanding that mental health distress effects us all. Some individuals will navigate through the emotions and not need any further assistance, while others may need to seek assistance from a Mental Health Coach or mental health provider.
Hosting open conversations and sharing your own experience with mental health distress helps others understand that they are not alone. As a Mental Health Coach, I have found that people will often open up once they hear someone else’s struggle. There is strength in numbers and that is one of the beautiful things about Transformed support groups.
We are so fortunate that we live in a day and age that we can reach thousands of people through technology, social media platforms, and the internet. Maintaining a positive supportive network can help break mental health stigma. Thank you for the work you are doing in your community and bridging the gap in the mental health community.
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Emily, while you are not a counselor, can you share something positive you learned from the Mental Health Coach training? As MHCs, we have to be aware of our limitations and our roles as Mental Health Coaches. Your feedback is valuable as we learn from each other.
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Yes Cheryl, being able to provide a safe space, compassion, and providing non-judgmental feedback are a few of the things that you can control as a Mental Health Coach. These simple things can go a long way in setting the right atmosphere in which a client becomes more receptive to referrals, alternate ways of viewing their current situation, and to accepting help. Being relatable and maybe sharing your own experiences in these sensitive situations can also be beneficial if the situation allows for it. While you cannot control the outcome or the decisions that another individual makes, as a Mental Health Coach you have to be aware of your limits and the role you play. Even if you do not agree with the choices an individual makes, there is always room for compassion and grace.
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April, I would love to see what you have put together in your PowerPoint presentation. At this time, the forum only allows text to be written out in the box provided. Feel free to email me a copy of your PowerPoint at gatewaytohope@hhci.org. Mental health stigma effects us all but I do agree that in minority groups, there is a difference in how we view mental health. Unfortunately, the lack of awareness, understanding, and mental health resources within these communities compound the issue. In my experience as a Mental Health Coach, actions speak louder than words or statistics. While that information is important, I have experienced that the way a person experiences mental health distress has a far greater impact on their perspective of mental health as a whole. Thank you for working to make a difference and break the stigma surrounding mental health distress.
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La salud mental nos afecta a todos. Nadie está exento de ella. Contar con un sistema de apoyo sólido es fundamental para aceptar ayuda, continuar con los tratamientos de salud mental y acabar con el estigma de que la salud mental sólo afecta a los débiles. Estoy de acuerdo con usted en que la comunidad de fe debe unirse en torno a estas personas y mostrarles la gracia, la compasión y el amor de Dios, al igual que lo haríamos con cualquiera que no tenga problemas de salud mental. Las comunidades de fe deberían parecerse más a un hospital y ayudar a cerrar la brecha en la comunidad de salud mental. Juntos somos más fuertes y compartir nuestros testimonios de cómo Dios nos ha ayudado a superar los momentos oscuros contribuirá en gran medida a acabar con el estigma que rodea a los trastornos mentales. Gracias por su trabajo y por el papel que desempeñan para salvar las distancias que separan a las personas de su comunidad.
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