How do you show mental health workers that it takes more than text book knowledge to help a client to survive?

yes textbook knowledge is the beginning but you also need to the street knowledge in return makes you able to teach someone the basics. But the twist is in real life today the clients need to be taught how to pay it forward to gain the ability to walk with their heads up not down looking on the sidewalk and feeling ashamed for who they are!How do you show mental health workers that it takes more than text book knowledge to help a client to survive?
u r so very right book knowledge is just that...I've been working n psych nursing for 10 years now and i can relate with alot of my patients due to the fact that i know how it feels to b depressed and suicidal and i find that when ur patient knows that u have been there and that u completely %26amp; actually understand what their going through (and i don't hesitate to tell them my story) they don't feel so alone then they take a look at how u have survived through it, it gives some inspiration. I've had patients get better go back to school and get a job in this field...Just like the ppl who do the AA and NA classes what r they gonna tell me about what it says in the book.......sure ok...the best ppl for these kinds of support positions r ppl who r recovering addicts/alcoholics...they can tell u faaaaaaaaaaar more than some book
yes that will be a job in itself.... i have a few MHT's that work under me and it is very ez to tell who has the compassion and understanding 2 b dealing with our patients. Even giving different senerios or even role playing won't allow 1 to honestly comprehend these feelings of our patients..

Report Abuse

How do you show mental health workers that it takes more than text book knowledge to help a client to survive?
and it really saddens me and therefore i feel that some of these patients who r dealing with inexperienced MHT's (or 2 b honest any of the staff whom has never felt this way) r being misunderstood....it's terrible..if would b nice if behavioral hospitals only hired ppl who have been there.

Report Abuse

How do you show mental health workers that it takes more than text book knowledge to help a client to survive?
I'm sorry I couldn't find your blog, I'll take a look if you can give us an actual link.



It sounds to me that you've had contact with some mental health professionals that weren't doing a very good job. They are human, make mistakes, and are not all equally good. Building honest self esteem should be the number one goal for any counselor, and if your's isn't doing that, it's time to find a new one.



You might want to read John Bradshaw's 'Bradshaw on the Family': actually more useful in my journey than seeing my therapist, even though she is one of the good ones.
They start figuring that out as soon as they graduate and start working with real mental health clients. If they still don't get it, maybe they shouild go on to other careers. I'm not sure what you are getting at.