Bit of research here...
To you as service users, what is important to you when building a relationship with professionals?
I was once told an important thing to do is make the service user think that you like them. They may not like you but if they think you like them then they will be more honest with you.
Is there anything that is important to you? How should a professional be if you are going to have a good open relationship with them?
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2 comments:
i have to have honesty and trust. i have to know that she believes me, no matter how much i doubt myself. i have to believe that she won't be afraid to tell me the truth, as she sees it. i have to feel like i matter to her, that i'm not just another client in an already busy schedule. she has to be smart, compassionate and a good listener. these are all characteristics that my therapist, shrink and doctor share. i'm really lucky to have such a good team.
I think that one of the things that is most important to me, is that I am not patronised. Being under mental health services does not mean that I am stupid, and yet it is amazing how many professionals make that assumption, and speak to you in the way that you might speak to a child, whilst at the same time telling you that you are intelligent. There really are an awful lot of patronising people working in mental health. Having a bath is quite unlikely to help someone who is feeling acutely suicidal, and yet that seems to be the number one suggestion from crisis teams across the country. Which I suppose leads on to the second thing I find really important - feeling like I am being listened to and believed. If I say that I don't find X helpful, and they go on to suggest X, then I feel like they haven't even been listening to me, therefore how on earth can they help me? There are a lot of other things too, and yes, feeling liked is always nice, but feeling listened to and respected, and not patronised, are the most important things to me.
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