Trust
When you did trust falls as a kid, did your friends catch you? Or did they let you fall, and you all laughed about it?
As of today, more people feel as though they can trust no one. Although it may be for some, I don’t think that’s necessarily true for everyone.
In more serious times, it’s hard to depict who to trust especially since news headlines make the world seem so scary.
However, I do feel like it gives us more to talk about. For example, a few of my friends go to therapy. Therefore, I’ve heard plenty of “I don’t know how this is going to go,” and even more “I felt comfortable talking to (he/she)” afterwards.
According to a senior manager at Deloitte Consulting LLP, “Trust is a critical enabler, and efforts to improve health equity and outcomes will likely not happen without it,” said Heather Nelson.
Therefore, it’s okay to feel nervous about talking to a new person. If you’re able to work past the nervousness and talking, therapy can be beneficial.
Another point that Nelson made in her article is that listening to your patients is a key component to restoring trust.
As a patient, you are responsible for knowing what you need to help you grow. Even if it seems like you’re rambling, your healthcare provider should be able to ask you questions about what you’re expressing. This builds room for you to think deeper about why you feel and the triggers that made you feel that way.
For the healthcare providers, you should be willing to just listen to the patient. While listening, you can take note in their body language about what their passionate about, what angers them, and just let them talk.
Being a listening ear allows room for understanding. Therefore, understanding one another can build room for trust to be restored.
For those who may still have trouble making that first step, try writing a letter to yourself. You can evaluate the note if you want to try understanding yourself and your triggers before you feel ready to share them.
Or you can store it and allow it to represent another that thing that you have to let go. When I say let go, I don’t mean you have to accept it.
I mean it as taking a note on how you felt and allowing yourself to work through it however and whenever you’re ready.
By doing any of this, you can establish trust in yourself and learn how to trust others.
Peace,
Amari
