Meeting Humanity: A Journey of Compassionate Healing

In the journey of healing, there was a profound case that stands as a testament to the power of genuine human connection. A person, who had been through the revolving doors of 16 different treatment centers, found their way to a humble clinician. For the first time, they were able to endure long-term residential care without being expelled, without facing involuntary hospitalization. Their transformation was so remarkable that even the lead psychiatrist from the insurance company inquired with curiosity, “What are you all doing differently? They’ve been dismissed from so many places; what is different?”

The difference, it seems, lay in the clinician’s ability to see them as human—accepting their true self and meeting them exactly where they were. This approach enabled them to move on to the next level of care, and they continued to reach out occasionally, expressing, “No one was a therapist like you.” The clinician encouraged them to be open to new treatment, to embrace the lower level of care, and to connect with their new providers. They worked diligently to prepare them for the transition prior to their discharge, and even during the two times they reached out, they encouraged them to keep striving for their best self.

However, they observed, “These other therapists just ask the same questions, but they don’t really know what they’re doing; they don’t really care.” In one of their messages, they hinted at passive ideation of self-harm, prompting the clinician to inform their ongoing therapist. The response was disheartening: “Do you think they’re confused?” It felt like the therapists were defensive, as if the intervention was perceived as disruptive to the person’s treatment. Yet, the psychiatrist had previously noted, “They’ve gone through 16 providers; what are you all doing different?” Instead of questioning how they might better meet the person’s needs, they criticized the clinician who was trying to assist.

These ego dynamics are frustrating, especially when the client’s well-being should be the foremost priority. Do doctors and therapists have all the answers with certainty? No, they do not. They possess only their most educated assumptions. In the end, it is the compassionate and understanding connection that paves the way for true healing.

(c)2024 John Piedrahita