Listening Effectively May Have a Therapeutic Effect

According to a recent study, listening to others might have a therapeutic effect.

 

This research comes from Texas A&M University. The team began with the premise that true, empathetic, listening, is something that is disappearing in our health care system. There is a general shortage of providers and when people are in positions like this, time with counselors, doctors, and other professionals can be cut short. This leads patients to feeling undervalued and unimportant. 

 

But when providers take the time to really listen, there is a benefit–both for the patient and for the person providing the service.

 

 

They focused on “values-driven listening” during this study. This isn’t just listening and nodding your head once in a while, or asking questions here and there. It’s about listening and connecting with the person that you are listening to. It’s about asking the right questions based upon what the unique situation might call for. It’s about being fully present, showing compassion, and being curious about the person that you’re engaging with. 

 

There are a number of different things that need to be present in order for listening to be effective and helpful. This includes being close by, being curious, being trustworthy and continuously working on that trust, ensuring that the setting is conducive for listening, helping to empower, and helping to build resilience. When listening takes these things into account, people reap more benefits than they do when just the standard questions are asked.

 

The team concluded that kindness isn’t just a nice extra to have when it comes to medical care. It’s a vital part of the success someone will experience in their care.

 

The team published their findings in the Mayo Clinic Proceedings. Hopefully, it is information that can help patients receive better care–both for their physical and their mental health needs. This research is still a fairly new area of study. That means that there is a lot of room for growth when it comes to improving the quality of care that they receive.

 

This research is another reason why in-home care is such a helpful service. In-home care provides assistance in a one on one setting. It provides a setting where caregivers can truly listen and more fully meet the needs of the person that they are helping out. It also provides an environment where caregivers and those that they assist form meaningful relationships. Many people receiving care come to value their caregiver as a friend and companion. 

 

Additionally, the team stipulated that being more meaningful and listening more caringly can help to overall improve the care system in our country.

 

If you’d like to learn more about how in-home care might fit in with your family’s needs, please feel free to give us a call. One of our caregivers would be happy to talk more with you during a free consultation session. This comes with no cost and no obligation. Our goal is to help get you connected with your family’s care goals. Call us today to talk more about how we can help get you there.