How to Coach Yourself and Others Coaching and Counseling in Difficult Circumstances | Page 21

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Should I encourage the person to seek professional help?
You should ask the person if they have felt this way before and if so, what they have done in the past that has
been helpful. Try to find out what type of assistance they believe will help them. Also, try to determine whether
the person has a supportive social network and if they do, encourage them to utilize these supports.
If the person decides to seek professional help, you should make sure that they are supported both emotionally
and practically in accessing services. If the person does seek help, and either they or you lack confidence in the
medical advice they have received, they should seek a second opinion from another medical or mental health
professional.
What if the person doesn’t want help?
The person may refuse to seek help even if they realise they are unwell. Their confusion and fear about what is
happening to them may lead them to deny that anything is wrong. In this case you should encourage them to talk
to someone they trust. It is also possible that a person may refuse to seek help because they lack insight that