Episode 11 Live Consultation with Sabrina Basquez

The Holistic Counseling Podcast

How can you use holistic therapy in an environment where prescribing medication has become the norm? What should you explain to a client when they are misinformed and think that medication can be used as a substitute to therapy? How can you approach the topic of medication to a client who is nervous about it?

MEET SABRINA BASQUEZ

Sabrina Basquez is a therapist and consultant specializing in burnout, secondary/vicarious trauma, trauma-sensitive mindfulness, and self-compassion.

After a decade of working with vulnerable populations, Sabrina personally experienced burnout and secondary traumatic stress. In the final year of her master’s degree, she lost her best friend, in part due to burnout. Over the years Sabrina has observed the personal suffering of countless professionals as they over-dedicated themselves, to often noble work, without realizing the damage they were doing to themselves or their professional efficacy.

These experiences reinforced within Sabrina a passion to collaborate with other professionals in high-demand careers to learn to self-manage burnout, secondary traumatic stress, and workplace bullying through healing past traumas, cultivating self-compassion, interpersonal skills acquisition, conflict resolution, and cognitive mastery.

Visit her website. Connect on Facebook and Instagram.

IN THIS PODCAST:

• It goes back to psychoeducation
• Educating your client about medication
• What to do when a patient nervous about medication

IT GOES BACK TO PSYCHOEDUCATION

In the counseling world, there can be differences in approach: although between the holistic counseling approach and the medical-scientific community approach there can not only be differences but even some conflicts.

This comes down to psychoeducation and some damaging myths that holistic counseling does not use any medication whatsoever, and this is not true.

When [a patient] is that severe, I’m going to talk to them about [medication] and see if it is something [they] are open to, always considering what they want to do with their treatment, and going from there. I believe medication can be helpful as a part of a holistic treatment regime because … some holistic strategies, think of them as complementary … they are part of the greater package. (Chris McDonald)

Holistic therapy uses medication alongside other strategies in a way so that they complement one another, and they do not privilege one above the other as a primary treatment option for a patient.

The medical model and open-mindedness do not need to be mutually exclusive. They can work together and be used together in order to provide the highest quality treatment to a patient.

I think as holistic providers we are open-minded that we don’t want to eliminate medication totally … even if you are totally against it, what is in the best interest of this client? To ask yourself that. (Chris McDonald)

EDUCATING YOUR CLIENT ABOUT MEDICATION

This starts in the first session. If a client is new to therapy then it is important to fully explain to them how the medication works and what they can expect from it.

Explain to your client that some people need medication and that, if the client would like, it can be an option for them should they feel it is necessary alongside your diagnosis. Although, some clients do not want medication and then that is alright as well.

I do talk about [that] sometimes if you do need medication, the best course of treatment research shows is if you have medication and therapy for the best outcomes, and to keep in mind that some people will start medication and stop therapy … but that is only part of it. (Chris McDonald)

Some people think that the medication will help them more than the therapy, or they think that the medication can work in place of the therapy. Therefore, it is important to explain to your clients that the best results come from a joint practice between taking medication – if necessary – and going to therapy regularly.

WHAT TO DO WHEN A PATIENT IS NERVOUS ABOUT MEDICATION

If you have a patient that may need medication in your opinion, but they are afraid of it, you can gently approach the topic with them.

Let them know that they do not have to take it now, and in the meantime, you can try other treatment modalities that they feel comfortable with to build them up to feeling confident to try medication.

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Resources Mentioned And Useful Links:

• Understanding Vibrational Upgrade Energy Medicine with Dr. Alison Kay
• Practice of the Practice Podcast Network