As a social worker or case manager, you will be working with individuals with substance use disorder. If you want these patients to get better and avoid relapse, then it is important that they feel cared for by you. It’s important to not let your personal feelings get in the way when someone who has an addiction needs help from you, so step up as a leader and do what you can.

Furthermore, celebrate breakthroughs with them because it means they have come far. Your patient will experience a healthier lifestyle with sobriety. Social workers should also take good care of their own health care to provide the best possible care for their patients. In this blog post, we’ll walk through 11 ways that social workers can help their clients feel cared for while giving them the support they need along the way.

Take Your Cues from the Patient

When working with someone who has an addiction, it’s important to be able to take your cues from the patient. Some patients will feel comfortable opening up about their personal life while others may not want you to know too much information. You can start by asking them questions like “What is one thing you are thankful for?”, this might make them feel comfortable to open up about what they are truly grateful for.

Make sure to take cues from the patient and ask them what they need. For example, some patients might need a lot of reminders about appointments but others will be fine without any at all. No matter which kind of patient you have you must respect their needs and preferences when caring for them.

Pay attention to nonverbal cues

In addition to taking cues from the patient, it is also important that you pay attention to their nonverbal cues. For example, if a patient seems uncomfortable but isn’t telling you why they might be feeling this way then try giving them extra personal space or changing your tone of voice. No matter what type of reaction a patient has make sure to respond to that with empathy and understanding.

Let your client take the lead. Not all patients are going to be comfortable with opening up or discussing their feelings, this is why you must let them take the lead. Some people prefer to talk about things when they are ready and others may need some time before they are willing to open up at all. By letting the patient take the lead you will be able to get a better idea of what kind of person they are and how much information they feel comfortable sharing.

Be aware that sometimes, your patient may not want help. Some patients might come across as rude or ungrateful because it’s their defense mechanism on why they act out. This is normal but make sure to not let it get in the way of your care for them. Even if they may act out, take this as an opportunity to show that you are there for them and want nothing but their well-being.

Be Patient when they are Relapsing

When a patient relapses it is important not to judge them or get frustrated because this might make the situation even worse for both of you. Instead, try your best to be empathetic and communicate with the patient about their relapse for you two to have a better understanding of what went wrong. Sometimes a relapse may happen because of a lack of support from the patient’s environment or even some other issue that might be going on with them.

Work together to make sure they are ready for sobriety. When someone relapses it doesn’t necessarily mean that they aren’t ready for sobriety, but can instead be an indication that they need more support. This is why it’s important that you work together with your patient to make sure they are mentally and physically ready for sobriety.

Let them know how much you care about them.

When working with someone who has an addiction, let them know that even though there might be times where their behavior or actions can make you frustrated, that doesn’t mean how much you care about them. It is important to let your patients know how appreciated they are and no matter what happens in their life make sure they know that you will always be there for them.

Be supportive of the decisions they make.

One thing social workers or case managers need to remember is that it’s important to be supportive of the decisions they make. For example, if your patient decides that it’s best for them to stay at a treatment center versus going back home then you need to respect their decision and let them know that even though they are taking this step towards sobriety there is still support given from family member or friends.

Be Patient when they are Angry/Frustrated with their Loved Ones or Treatment Process

When a patient is angry and frustrated it can be easy for you to get caught up in the moment but try your best not to react because this might make things even worse. Instead, speak calmly and let the patient know that you understand how they feel and share words of encouragement to motivate them along with their recovery.

Let the patient know that you are there to listen.

As mentioned before, some patients might feel comfortable opening up while others may take time before being able to open up. If your patient is not ready to talk about how they are feeling then it’s important for them to let you know this so that way both of you can be aware of the situation.

Let them know that they can talk to you about anything.

Since working with someone who has an addiction requires a lot of trust, it’s important for the patient to feel safe and unjudged when having discussions with their social worker or case manager. This is why letting your patient know that they should feel comfortable talking about anything.

Avoid Over-reacting when your patient is angry at you

Sometimes it might be hard for a patient not to get mad or frustrated with you if things aren’t going as planned but try not to take this personally. Instead of getting mad back speak calmly and let them know that you understand how they feel. If the patient is still angry with you it might be best to ask for a break so that both of you can cool off.

Give them time to calm down

When a patient is angry with you it’s important not to react at the moment because this might cause things between the two of you to escalate. Instead, let your patients know that they can take some time to cool off and if possible give yourself an hour or so before continuing any discussions about their treatment plan.

Give Praise when your patient has improved or has gained new skills

One of the best things about working with patients who have an addiction is that you get to see them overcome their obstacles and become better versions of themselves in recovery. If your patient has improved or gained new skills then make sure to let them know how proud you are and give praise where it’s due.

Don’t forget to congratulate them on their success

After your patient has completed a treatment plan it’s important not to forget about giving them praise for all of the hard work they have done. This can be as simple as congratulating them with an email or handwritten card, this small act will make your patients feel proud and accomplished.

Try not to take credit for all of your patient’s progress

This might make them feel as if you are trying to take credit for their hard work. Instead, celebrate what they have done and give praise when appropriate. You can also share words of encouragement or personal anecdotes in order to motivate the patient on their road towards recovery.

Be honest with your patient but do not over-share your own life details

Being honest with your patient is important in order to gain their trust, but it’s also important not to over-share. If you are trying to establish a strong relationship with your patients then be open and honest about who you are as an individual because this will help them feel more comfortable sharing what they have gone through. On the other hand, over-sharing can cause your patients to feel uncomfortable.

As a social worker or case manager, you have the ability to share about yourself but it’s important not to cross boundaries when doing so. For example, if one of your patients asks what is going on in your life then this would be okay because they are just trying to get to know you better. However, if your patient asks about intimate details such as why your divorce then this is something that should not be shared because it’s too personal and might cause them to feel uncomfortable or self-conscious.

It is important to always be honest and upfront with your patient but it is also not a good idea to over-share. For example, you shouldn’t give too much personal information or confide in them about things they don’t need to know because this might make the situation uncomfortable for everyone involved.

Help your patient improve their life skills/Appropriate Boundaries in Relationships with Family and Friends

In order to help your patient have a successful recovery, it is important that you focus on improving their life skills and helping them appropriate boundaries with others. When working with patients who are recovering from addictions, one of the most common goals they will want to achieve is being able to be part of a healthy relationship.

Some patients might struggle with problem-solving and therefore need some help along the way. With this in mind, try your best to give them advice on how they can improve their life skills such as time management or emotional regulation. No matter what kind of patient you have make sure that you are always giving out helpful tips whenever possible because this will help them improve their quality of life.

On the other hand, it’s important to not overstep your boundaries when you are trying to help them. For example, if a patient confides in you that they want some tips on how to better deal with their spouse then this is something that might be too personal and should maybe be discussed with another professional. If at any time you feel like a topic might be too personal then it is important that you let the patient know and try to find another way to help them.

Don’t forget about your other patients while working with one

While it’s always good for social workers or case managers to establish strong relationships, this shouldn’t come at the cost of neglecting their other patients. Make sure you are always giving your other patients the attention that they need and making sure to not let one person take up all of your time.

Be transparent about what’s going on when things change

Keeping your patient informed is important in order to make sure that everyone knows what’s going on. If you are doing something different with one of your patients for whatever reason then it is essential that they understand why this change happened. Never leave them wondering or thinking about possible negative things, instead always let them know when changes happen and don’t be afraid to apologize if you made a mistake or did something wrong.

Remember that social workers and case managers can’t focus on one patient all of the time because this is not healthy for anyone. While it’s important to be open and honest with your patients about what they need then try your best not to let this affect other relationships in your life.

It is important to always be honest with your patient about what’s going on whenever things need to change. For example, if you are not able to continue working with the patient or they require a higher level of care than yourself then make sure that you tell them ahead of time instead of leaving them in the dark.

Be aware of triggers & teach ways to cope if they’re uncomfortable around certain things/people.

Triggers are everywhere and while many patients might not even be aware of what the word means, it’s still important to talk about this concept with them. For example, if you have a patient who is recovering from substance use disorder then there might be certain triggers that they need to know about.

If your patient has any sort of mental health diagnosis then there might be certain things that trigger them and cause a relapse. In this case, it’s important to know what triggers your patient so you can help teach ways they can cope if these situations happen.

While some patients may not have any idea about what a trigger is others might already understand exactly what you are talking about.

It is important to be aware of the triggers that your patient might have in order to avoid triggering them accidentally. Also, try your best not to get overwhelmed when they are uncomfortable around certain things or people because otherwise, you both might suffer from an anxiety attack. Instead, teach them ways on how they can cope with these feelings and stay safe instead.

Seeing a person’s potential and helping them reach it

Helping patients see their potential and helping them reach it is something that social workers and case managers are great at. Whether you are trying to help your patient get a GED, find an internship, or just learn how to cook for themselves then these are all things that can be done in order to help encourage someone.

While this might seem like an easy thing, it’s important to remember that not everyone has the same goals when they are in recovery. Some might want to get their GED while others just want a stable job so try your best to help them set up realistic goals for themselves. Helping someone see their potential and helping them reach it is something that social workers and case managers are exceptional at.

For example, if your patient wants to get a GED or find an internship then you can help them do this. In addition, try not to overwhelm patients with too many goals because otherwise they might become discouraged when it takes longer than expected for them to achieve their goal(s).

Telling a patient they’re doing well in recovery despite setbacks along the way

Telling patients that they are doing well despite setbacks is something that social workers and case managers do best because it can be very discouraging to hear someone say otherwise. While you should always encourage your patient, there might come a time when they need some tough love was telling them their not doing as well as you expected isn’t the worst thing.

It is important to be honest with your patients when they are not doing well in recovery no matter how discouraging this might seem. For example, if you tell someone that their behavior isn’t acceptable or they do not deserve help then it can cause them to go back into a relapse. Instead, try encouraging them by saying things like “You may not be where you want to be yet but I can tell you’re trying your best.”

It is important telling your patient when they are doing well in recovery even though setbacks might happen along the way. For example, try not to get discouraged if certain things don’t work out, and instead, try your best to encourage the patient and let them know that they can get through this.

Give your patient a break sometimes when they’re struggling with tough things/feelings

Giving patients a break when they are struggling with certain things can be very important because it will allow them to have time to calm down and think about what is best for them. This way, the patient has more control over their feelings which might prevent them from doing anything drastic.

It’s important to give your patients breaks whenever they are struggling with certain feelings or things because it will allow them to think about what is best for their recovery. For example, if you don’t take a break then the patient might go into relapse due to doing something drastic. Instead of taking away all their breaks, let them know that they can come to talk to you whenever they are struggling and need time alone.

It is important for you to give your patient a break every once in a while if they are struggling with tough situations or their feelings become overwhelming. For example, try giving them some space for a while so that they can collect themselves.

Always be there for your patient & stay in touch whenever you can

Make sure your patient knows that they have someone who is always there for them and ready to help no matter what whenever possible. This way, the person feels like they are part of a team with you instead of feeling alone or abandoned.

Encouraging your patient to stay sober and not relapse is important because it helps them feel like they don’t have to go through this alone. It is important to make sure your patient knows you are there whenever possible in order to help them through tough times. So if their mental health gets the best of them or they aren’t feeling safe, then do your best to remind them that you are there for them and can help.

Creating a supportive environment & gaining trust slowly over time

Creating a supportive environment for your patient will allow them to feel safe and at ease. This way, they aren’t afraid to open up about their feelings or what is going on in their life.

It’s important for you to create a supportive environment where your patient feels safe and comfortable. This way, they can feel like it is okay to be themselves and share with you whatever might be going on with them because that will help build trust between the two of you over time

It is important creating a supportive environment in which your patient feels secure and like they can trust you slowly over time. Therefore, try not to get frustrated if they don’t trust you right away, and instead, be patient with them.

Summary:

As social workers or case managers, we play an important role in the lives of our patients. We are often the ones who provide them with the information they need to make informed decisions about their health. However, sometimes our patients may not be able to understand or process this information. This is where health literacy comes in. Health literacy is the ability to read, understand, and use health information. It is important for us to be able to communicate effectively with our patients so that they can make the best decisions for their health.

Patient satisfaction is important because it helps the patient know that you’re willing to do whatever it takes in order for them to be comfortable and happy. This way, your patient feels more satisfied with the patient centered care they have received from you which will also lead to a better relationship between both of you. Always make sure to check on your patient’s status regularly.

It’s important to ask your patient about their health goals regularly so that you can help them achieve those. Always make sure to engage patients regularly and they will slowly begin opening up more about what is going on in their lives.

Make sure to always take your patient’s family into consideration when it comes to the care that you are providing for them. Educate your patient’s family members about their health condition and how they can best help support the person in recovery even if this means making lifestyle changes themselves too. Educate family members of your patient about their health condition and how they can best help support the person in recovery even if this means making lifestyle changes themselves too.

Make sure your patient’s experience with the health care system is as positive as possible which means treating them with care, respect, and dignity. To improve the quality of the patient experience it is important to make sure that your patient knows everyone involved in their health are always there for them no matter what. The best way to improve the quality of a patient’s experience is by making sure they know how much you truly care about them.

Do not forget to prioritize your own health when it comes to taking care of others. The physical health of patients is important to make sure they are in the best shape possible. In order for medical errors to be prevented, it is important that you put patient priorities first and foremost in order for them to receive the best possible treatment from a qualified professional who knows how to handle their situation well. Make sure to take care of your own health so you can prioritize the needs of others.

Patient outcomes should be prioritized first and foremost in order for you to provide the best possible care that your patient needs. It is important that you put their priorities first so they can have the best possible treatment. Patient care should be prioritized first so patients can receive the best possible treatment. Make certain that everyone involved in a person’s health is always there for them no matter what they need, even if it means going above and beyond what is expected of you.

Make sure to always prioritize the needs of your patient and make certain that everyone involved in their health care is there for them no matter what they need, even if it means going above and beyond what’s expected.