How to Coach Yourself and Others Coaching and Counseling in Difficult Circumstances | Page 29

This book is in B&W, not color - Print page in Grayscale for Correct view! - Family member: “Wow, resting is so important. You must be totally exhausted if you can’t rest.” Person with psychosis: “Yeah, they put me on this really high dose.” Family member: “How about if we talk to the doctor about doing something to help you rest.” Person with psychosis: “Can you talk to him for me?” Example 2 - Person with psychosis: “Everybody in town is after me.” Family member: “That sounds terrifying to think everybody’s after you.” Person with psychosis: “It IS terrifying.” Family member: “No wonder you’re so upset. What led you to feel that everybody’s after you?” Person with psychosis: “There are all these cars outside.” Family member: “Hmm, that’s interesting (going to look at the cars). Gee, there’s a shopping center across the street. Do you think that might be part of why there are so many cars?” - Person with psychosis: “Well, maybe… but I still think people are after me.” - Family member: “It sounds like you’re feeling really scared. What can we do to help you feel safe?” “I’m Not Sick, I Don’t Need Help” The book by Xavier Amador, "I’m Not Sick, I Don’t Need Help", is particularly useful for families trying to communicate with a person who does not accept that they are ill. Amador makes several key points: Sometimes it is actually better for people not to accept a psychiatric label, if they have negative beliefs about what that label means. By using their language rather than insisting that they accept a particular diagnostic label, they are more likely to choose treatment. Usually adapting to medical diagnoses such as psychosis and schizophrenia involves a process of “de-stigmatizing”, re-thinking what those labels do and don’t mean. Amador also points out that people with schizophrenia (and psychosis in general) often experience cognitive problems which are not immediately obvious. In particular, he discusses “anasignosia”, a brain condition in which individuals are unable to recognize medical symptoms. He hypothesizes that this may be a significant factor for some people who “lack insight” about their illness; they may, in fact, be literally unable to recognize the symptoms. Amador reinforces the importance of reflective listening, and offers the “LEAP” model: “Listen, Empathize, Agree, Partner”. The bottom line is to listen for what the person finds motivating, empathize with them, find common ground you can agree on, and partner with them to address common goals. For [email protected] Property of Bookemon, do NOT distribute 31