offer help, but don’t inflict help that isn’t requested
verify that the helpee is “serious” about using your help: help can’t be for free
an intervention is also a a test of a hypothesis: update on the results
as a corollary, effective help requires forming a theory or model of the situation
the best way to get entangled with the situation is to listen to the “helpee”
listening requires an open mind (i.e. often changing your mind)
the helpee’s situation is a system, with many entangled components, which can include other people
your help and intentions in helping can become part of that system, for good or ill
your help, intentions, approach and results should always be a legitimate topic of discussion with the helpee
you should always be clear about why you’re helping
because of that, it’s often a good idea to have someone in turn helping you help others
That’s from my general approach to consulting, i.e. helping people, or more precisely “influencing people at their request”. It’s not specific to grief or depression counseling, and thus should perhaps be taken with a grain of salt.
To take a stab at what I know of that topic:
offer help, but don’t inflict help that isn’t requested
verify that the helpee is “serious” about using your help: help can’t be for free
an intervention is also a a test of a hypothesis: update on the results
as a corollary, effective help requires forming a theory or model of the situation
the best way to get entangled with the situation is to listen to the “helpee”
listening requires an open mind (i.e. often changing your mind)
the helpee’s situation is a system, with many entangled components, which can include other people
your help and intentions in helping can become part of that system, for good or ill
your help, intentions, approach and results should always be a legitimate topic of discussion with the helpee
you should always be clear about why you’re helping
because of that, it’s often a good idea to have someone in turn helping you help others
That’s from my general approach to consulting, i.e. helping people, or more precisely “influencing people at their request”. It’s not specific to grief or depression counseling, and thus should perhaps be taken with a grain of salt.