How Do You Advocate for a Client's Mental Health Needs?
In the intricate dance of advocating for a client's mental health, therapists and psychologists play pivotal roles. From communicating with teachers to support students to navigating conversations with physicians about eating disorders, here are the top four strategies from therapy professionals on championing their clients' needs.
- Communicate with Teachers for Student Support
- Collaborate for Holistic Client Care
- Ensure Client's Voice in Professional Dialogues
- Navigate Eating Disorder Conversations with Physicians
Communicate with Teachers for Student Support
As a play therapist, advocating for a client's mental health needs with teachers often involves clear and respectful communication. I typically start by obtaining the client's (or their guardian's) consent to share relevant information. Then, I reach out to the teacher, explaining the student's mental health challenges and how they might impact their learning or behavior in the classroom.
We then collaborate to create accommodations or interventions that support the student's success. This might include adjusting deadlines, providing a quiet space for breaks, or implementing behavior management strategies. Open communication and a shared goal of helping the student thrive are crucial in these interactions.
Collaborate for Holistic Client Care
As a therapist utilizing a Cognitive-Behavioral perspective, advocating for a client's mental health needs with other professionals involves clear communication and collaboration. I start by ensuring that I have all appropriate releases signed and shared. I then revisit the needs and goals of the treatment plan with my client to ensure a comprehensive mutual understanding of the client's needs and goals.
When reaching out to other professionals, such as primary care physicians or psychiatrists, I provide a detailed summary of the client's progress, current treatment plan, and specific areas where additional support or coordination might be needed. For example, if a client requires medication management in addition to therapy, I communicate their current symptoms, treatment goals, and any concerns about potential medication side effects. I also advocate for integrated care by proposing joint sessions or consultations to align treatment strategies and ensure a cohesive approach.
Additionally, I emphasize the importance of addressing any barriers to care, such as logistical issues or gaps in services. By maintaining open lines of communication and focusing on the client's holistic needs, I work to ensure that all professionals involved are working together effectively to support the client's mental health journey.
Ensure Client's Voice in Professional Dialogues
When advocating for a client's mental health, effective communication with other professionals—be they medical, educational, or familial—is crucial. I always make it a priority to ensure that my client's voice is heard in any such conversation.
In cases where a client's mental health affects their physical health, I've reached out to their primary care doctor (with the client's permission) to provide additional context about how anxiety or other mental health issues may be contributing to physical symptoms. This often leads to a more informed treatment plan, which helps the client feel understood and supported.
Advocacy also extends to helping clients secure necessary accommodations in school or work environments, especially when anxiety, depression, or trauma impacts their performance. By working with clients to create individualized plans, we ensure their mental health needs are seen as equally important as their physical health, helping them thrive in all areas of life.
Navigate Eating Disorder Conversations with Physicians
I have 25 years of experience working with eating disorders. Unfortunately, primary care physicians and pediatricians are not well-versed in what to say and what not to say regarding eating issues. They enforce weight check-ins, which can impede progress made in therapy, as the number on a scale is triggering. They often engage in fat-shaming and tell you or your child to just lose weight, sometimes without even inquiring about a history of eating disordered behavior.
Sometimes, if you lose a lot of weight and could be turning to anorexia, a physician will say, "Great job," or, "You look great," without checking to see if you're developing an eating disorder. They also do not conduct proper lab work or cardiac testing. I always take the approach of sending a kind letter to the physician to explain that my client cannot do weight checks or do a blind weight. I list the lab and cardiac tests I am requesting. Usually, a physician is relieved to have assistance, but sometimes they don't like it.
I find that psychiatrists are often resistant to medication and diagnostic feedback, which is a shame because we spend one hour weekly with a client, and they do not. It should be collaborative and for the best care of the patient. I also have advocated for clients with school and work to get accommodations that can help, especially with children who have diagnostic issues.
