How to Support a Loved One with Their Mental Health

Category 3

Nov 23

How can we support a family friend who was dealing with depression and anxiety? What can we do to support our loved ones with mental health issues? Understanding that every case is different and may require a different level of intervention, here are some things you can do to support your loved one who is dealing with mental health issues.

Listen with Compassion – Take the time to listen to your friend/relative. Simply having someone showing they care and understand can be helpful to the person.

Stay in Touch – Check in with your friend/relative from time to time. Checking in illustrates that you are still there for them no matter what they are going through.

Be Patient – Your friend/relative may have a difficult time getting out of their home or participating in social outings, don’t stop inviting them, rather be patient with them. Continue to invite them to participate and encourage their presence but do not pressure them.

Support – Offer your support in any way you can. When they are ready, help them find a professional in the area that they can talk to and even offer to go with them, if they’ve not already done so.

Do Not Judge – Stay away from saying things like “get over it” or “try harder.” People with mental health issues are trying to move forward and can find a great deal of difficulty in this. When people tell them to “just get over it” or “try harder” it devalues the work they have done and are doing.

Share – Share your experiences with mental health issues (if you have any) and what worked for you or someone you know. This shows the person they are not alone. But, be careful not to assume that your story is the same as theirs. Every story is different.

Educate Yourself – Take the time to learn about their diagnosis. If they are not ready to open up to you about their symptoms, there are articles online you can read that may help you get an idea of what the person is going through.

Take Care of You – The old adage of “before you assist others, always put your oxygen mask on first,” is true. Make sure you are also taking care of yourself and your own mental health while caring for your friend/relative.

Rachel Aredia, LCPC, NCC

Thank you for coming to get to know me! I am a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor, practicing in Chicago, Illinois. I have a Bachelor’s in Psychology with a minor in Sociology and Philosophy from Southern Illinois University and obtained my Master’s in Clinical Counseling from The Chicago School of Professional Psychology.

I have 10+ years experience working in the mental health field, with experience holding a variety of different titles and helping hundreds of clients in a variety of therapeutic settings. I have a special interest in working with clients who experience anxiety, depression, grief, trauma, and related disorders. I have received specialized training in LGBTQ Affirmative Therapy as well as mindfulness-based treatment therapy, and motivational interviewing. In addition, I have obtained advanced training in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) and am a Certified Clinical Anxiety Treatment Professional (CCATP).

Focus & Approach

During my journey in the mental health field (both personally and professionally), I have learned that the biggest thing for my clients is fostering a judgement-free space where one can be authentic and feel genuinely heard.

I am in a great place of privilege to be able to help people navigate the most challenging and stressful times of their lives. I strongly believe the quality of the therapeutic relationship plays a significant role in an individual’s healing process, and therefore my goal is to develop and maintain a safe, open, and trusting dynamic with each client that I work with by humanizing the process. I believe everyone should have a therapist, myself included. I also understand that I will not meet everyone’s needs all of the time and when that happens, I am happy to make referrals to therapists that would better fit your needs as the client – therapist relationship is so important for your treatment.

My approach has been described as engaging, empathic, direct, warm and non-judgmental. I have been known to use humor in my sessions to promote comfort and humanize the process of therapy. I strive to create a space where you can be your authentic self and break down any barriers you may have to leave you feeling empowered and at ease. I encourage positive change in a supportive, compassionate manner while simultaneously offering at times, blunt feedback with empathy and humor.

I hold special interest in working with clients who may have experienced difficult therapeutic relationships in the past. Perhaps you or a loved one engaged in therapy with a therapist who did not fit your needs and left a “bad taste” of therapy. My hope is to engage these clients and assist them in finding a better fit for the therapeutic relationship as I believe therapy is so important.

Personal Note

When not in therapy, I have been known to enjoy Cubs games, enjoy spending time with my dog, and enjoying true crime documentaries.

I have also engaged in therapy as a client and understand the value of the relationship of the client and therapist. I also understand that sometimes, we just need someone to simply talk to.

My Statement on the BLM movement

I stand in support of the Black community in solidarity against racism and injustice. I am committed to learning how I can work together with my clients and community toward a future of equality. My practice is open to everyone as this is a judgment free zone. I look forward to the continued conversations and opportunities to not only discuss the Black Lives Matter movement and the current state of racial relations in America, but to do my part to raise awareness of systemic racism and to help dismantle that system, wherever possible.

https://www.inspirewithintherapy.com