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How do I force my friend to therapy?
Approach the conversation with care and concern, not judgment. When you broach the topic of therapy, begin by expressing that you want to help because you care about the other person. Ask questions and listen to the person’s answers carefully and patiently. Listen for ways that therapy could address specific concerns. Maintain a compassionate stance. Encourage them to be kind to themselves. Normalize help-seeking or going to therapy, just as you would see a doctor for physical health issues. Tell them about confidentiality and ethical treatment. Even if you normally enjoy therapy, there might be some days when you’re just not feeling it. It’s okay to not want to go to therapy. Fortunately, there are some things you can do to improve your experience—and lots of other ways to improve your mental health outside of therapy. Individuals fear judgment, change, the unknown, and what they might discover in therapy; additionally, they’re too prideful to admit they need help. Additionally, some people doubt the efficacy of mental health treatment: They’re uncertain it will work or misunderstand how it works. Offer emotional support and reassurance. Let them know you care about them and you’ll be there if they change their mind. Inform them how to seek help when they’re ready (for example, you could show them our pages on talking to your GP and what might happen at the appointment).
Can I force my friend to go to therapy?
It is their decision. You are simply bringing up an idea that may be helpful for them, but if your friend or loved one is not ready for therapy, you cannot force them to be ready. Therapy can only be successful and productive if the person attending therapy has initiated treatment on their own accord. Approach the conversation with care and concern, not judgment. When you broach the topic of therapy, begin by expressing that you want to help because you care about the other person. Ask questions and listen to the person’s answers carefully and patiently. Listen for ways that therapy could address specific concerns. Therapy offers an opportunity to sort through your problems with another person. Sometimes, just talking about the things that are bothering you can help you to feel less burdened or overwhelmed. Talking to a therapist gives you an opportunity to open up to someone in a safe and confidential environment. If a patient’s illness is affecting their capacity to refuse care, and they are considered a danger to themselves or to others, the healthcare provider is expected to treat the patient regardless of their refusal. After all, your therapist is a trained listener, not advice-giver. That does not mean your therapist is merely looking at you and listening while you talk. Any skilled therapist will be listening acutely for specific signals, which they then use to guide the direction of the conversation over time.
Can you convince someone to go to therapy?
And while convincing someone to go to therapy is tricky territory, telling a person you care about that a mental health professional could help them is totally fine, says psychologist Justin Puder, PhD. The therapist should not treat close relatives or friends of the patient. No practical advice to a patient. Maintain objectivity and neutrality toward the patient and avoid excessive worrying/thinking about the patient. Seek supervision if you are tempted to, and before you do, violate any of these rules. Only about 40% of people with mental health issues such as anxiety or depression decide to participate in counseling. You can try to help your relative by encouraging them to get help from a doctor like a GP. They may not want to see a doctor. You can try to ask for help yourself. You can try to contact the GP or local mental health services. Client-therapist friendships can be unethical, according to codes of ethics from many bodies that govern therapists, including the American Psychological Association [APA]. By becoming friends with a client, a therapist can risk disciplinary action from governing bodies or losing licensure.