Healthcare professionals play an essential role in helping clients and families feel comfortable engaging in treatment programs for substance use disorder (SUD) and mental health conditions. According to BMC Psychology, "Trust and respect may be an important component of client-provider relationships." Building trust with clients increases the effectiveness of treatment and reduces emotional distress for people struggling with mental health disorders. The experts at Driftwood Recovery create positive connections with clients by fostering compassion and providing personalized care.

Fostering Compassion Improves the Effectiveness of Treatment Programs

Treatment for SUD and mental health disorders requires clients to be vulnerable and open themselves up to making sometimes difficult lifestyle changes. Fostering compassion in everyday interactions with clients helps build a foundation of kindness, patience, trust, and support. Clients and their loved ones are more likely to make progress in treatment if they feel heard, valued, and understood. A compassionate approach to client care ensures healthcare workers give clients their complete focus and support. Each person is valued and allowed to express their needs and preferences.

A compassionate approach to care benefits healthcare workers and clients by doing the following:

• Improving communication and collaboration
• Increasing client engagement in treatment
• Reducing stress by providing clients with a welcoming space for self-exploration and healing

Chronic substance abuse causes changes in the brain, affecting empathy. Compassionate treatment programs help clients develop empathy and social skills. According to Pharmacology Biochemistry and Behavior, "Preclinical and clinical research alike continues to find an overlap between the underlying behavior and neural substrates that regulate both empathy and addiction." Researchers report that treatment programs with "strong social support networks are more effective." Driftwood Recovery understands the importance of modeling positive social interactions for clients and their families. Staff members practice kindness and compassion in every client interaction.

Creating a Welcoming and Inclusive Space for Healing

Driftwood Recovery offers clients a welcoming and inclusive space where they can feel comfortable collaborating with their care team. A trusting client-clinician relationship ensures more positive treatment outcomes. Studies have shown that "collaboration is also the key to serving the client in the broadest possible context." Clients have distinct motivations, goals, and underlying issues affecting their ability to recover from SUD. Staff members benefit from doing a deep dive into the client's needs, experiences, and concerns. Open and honest communication is essential to creating an inclusive space for people to heal.

Healthcare professionals create a welcoming environment by doing the following:

• Learning each client's needs and personal preferences
• Treating coworkers and clients with respect and dignity
• Practicing honesty and transparency
• Being mindful of potential client triggers
• Holding clients and coworkers accountable for their behaviors

Individuals in treatment for SUD and mental health disorders may have a limited support system and less developed social skills. Staff members are responsible for modeling positive social behaviors to help guide clients through developing essential coping skills for managing their condition.

The Importance of Fostering Compassion During Interactions With Clients, Families, and Coworkers

Clients and their families benefit from participating in treatment programs where staff members treat them with respect and understanding.

Fostering compassion does the following:

• Creates a space where people feel comfortable asking for help and providing support to peers
• Allows healthcare workers to provide care and support without taking on a client's stress or trauma
• It opens up lines of communication between clients and the care team

Healthcare workers encounter many unexpected and challenging situations while treating clients. Being compassionate with workers builds a healthier workplace and improves treatment outcomes for clients. Driftwood Recovery prioritizes teamwork and integrative care to enhance the treatment experience for clients and staff members. Clinicians and support staff meet daily to communicate workplace needs, connect on a human level, and address any challenges they encounter.

How Healthcare Professionals Show Compassion

Most people who work in healthcare want to make a difference in their clients' lives. Addiction recovery and mental health experts show compassion through their words and actions. According to Frontiers in Psychology, "Compassion is among the most important virtues in medicine, expected from medical professionals and anticipated by patients."

Healthcare workers show compassion by doing the following:

• Actively listening to client needs
• Modeling healthy behaviors for struggling clients
• Taking the time to get to know clients on a deeper level
• Smiling and using eye contact or other body language cues

Every day, staff members have an opportunity to help someone turn their life around. This critical work makes it vital for healthcare workers to practice compassion with clients, coworkers, and themselves.

Fostering Compassion at Driftwood Recovery

Driftwood Recovery fosters compassion by providing staff members with continuing training, resources, and support. People working with vulnerable populations often experience emotional burnout unless they practice self-care. Directing compassion to clients and coworkers can reduce workplace stress and help healthcare workers feel more comfortable setting healthy work-life boundaries. Showing kindness to others can inspire, motivate, and uplift. Self-compassion and self-care improve the quality of treatment healthcare workers provide to clients and their families.

Clients come from all backgrounds and walks of life. Driftwood Recovery has policies and procedures in place to ensure clients and their loved ones have access to compassionate and evidence-based treatment. Compassionate care provides clients with the best possible treatment outcomes. Healthcare workers must work together to create an environment where clients feel safe and supported. The client-clinician relationship is integral to long-term recovery from substance abuse and mental health disorders. Driftwood Recovery provides staff with the resources and training to ensure they provide clients with the best treatment services. Healthcare professionals also have an opportunity to learn and grow during every interaction with clients. To learn more about how we support clients, call us today at (512) 759-8330.