Listen - January 2024

Health Services Stall News

For Health and Wellness

​Just being able to talk openly and honestly with someone who listens, accepts us, ​and does not judge, has been shown to decrease depression.​

Non-Judgmental Listening

Listening non-judgmentally is a powerful therapeutic intervention that we all can learn. Here are some guidelines:

• Be mindful - focus your attention on the person who is sharing.
• Really listen to understand how they are feeling, even if what they are saying clashes with your own values/beliefs.
• Do NOT give advice. It’s NOT about telling another what they should or shouldn’t do, it is about setting up a safe space for them to honestly share and begin working through the problem themselves.
• Do NOT talk about your own experiences – it’s not about you.
• DO provide empathetic responses to validate emotions (e.g. “I’m sorry you are hurting”, “This must be hard for you”).

Non-judgmental listening is not only for crisis situations. It can be used effectively in everyday situations where people may not be feeling well emotionally. Give it a try! You may be surprised at all the thanks you receive for the help that you provided - just by listening.

Avoid Using Judgmental Statements

Although mental health awareness is increasing in the US, we still have many left-over bad habits that need to be changed in order to better support a culture of Mental Wellness.

Do any of these judgmental statements sound familiar to you? We have the power to help change the conversation.