How To Counsel Without Affect
I had never realized how much I “use” my face in my work until today when I was co-counseling a patient through a TB-protective mask. My smile behind the little green mask conveyed nothing to anyone but me. Perhaps my eyes revealed more than I realize, but I found myself wanting to forgo the protection because in that moment, connecting with the patient was all that mattered to me. It makes me think about what a peson should do in those moments when “self” and “other” do the necessary dance that they do in good mental health care. Can there really be a “best practice” for that?
April 25th, 2009 at 6:13 am
Believe me, Nancy, your smile shows in your eyes too! You are doing such inspiring work, and it’s not bad to protect yourself darling Nancy! Love, Naomi