People talk about “holding space” more than ever, and it’s rightfully so. Holding space means creating an environment built around comfort and support. Naturally, this is essential in many situations, whether it be professionally, socially, or therapeutically.
You can’t expect someone to perform well, thrive, heal, and succeed if they don’t feel comfortable. Holding space is a two-way street, as everyone must mutually respect one another’s comfort and boundaries.
However, nobody should understand the value of holding space more than social workers and mental health professionals. Follow along as we explore how holding space can help you walk others down the path of healing.
Today, the stigma surrounding mental health has thankfully weakened, but it’s far from gone. Many still feel apprehensive about opening up to social workers, counselors, and psychiatrists. This may be partially due to cultural stigmas, but it also has much to do with human nature.
After all, you can’t walk the path toward healing unless you put as much into the interaction as possible. That said, it’s up to counselors and social workers to create safe spaces for their clients. Not only will holding space encourage people to open up, but it will also help them start the healing process.
Of course, you can’t simply flip a switch and expect someone to open up and heal. You can create a safe space and encourage great outcomes if you follow a few key steps, such as:
Nobody will vent and be transparent with someone they barely know if they sense any type of judgment. That’s fair, and you cannot create a safe space if your client feels open to judgment. This is equally true for social workers, case workers, therapists, and even probation officers.
Keep in mind, therapeutic judgement is different from personal judgement. Naturally, counselors and social workers must apply their knowledge and experience to make therapeutic judgments for their clients. However, your demeanor and words must demonstrate that you don’t judge your clients based on their character or actions.
Some people naturally struggle to demonstrate vulnerability and accept help. If you don’t empower them, they may never open up enough to heal and get the help they need. The first step to empowering your clients and creating a safe space is to make them feel heard.
Active listening is important, and people can tell when you check out while they’re talking. Acknowledging someone as they speak can help them feel comfortable and open up more. Many people ultimately want to feel validated when they open up to someone.
An engaging conversation can benefit your client much more than one that is strictly clinical. The last thing you want to do is make someone feel that the interaction is transactional. Empowering your clients and making them feel heard can ensure they make great contributions and help themselves going forward.
Everyone has a line, and boundaries vary based on perspective, situation, and comfort level. Sometimes, people hesitate to vocalize their boundaries, and it’s up to you to recognize them. You can’t create a safe space if you try to get your client to speak or perform exercises outside their comfort zone.
Recognizing someone’s boundaries and comfort level gets easier with time. For example, you can read their body language and see how certain prompts affect their demeanor. Adjust your approach and tailor your interactions to help your client within their comfort zone.
Over time, you will learn how to create meaningful outcomes for your clients on their terms. Don’t hesitate to ask your client to open up and voice their boundaries if you reach an impasse. Respecting boundaries establishes trust, and trust is essential for healing.
Your client’s needs may change from encounter to encounter. Whether you’re a social worker, counselor, or psychiatrist, you must be ready to adapt on the fly. You must demonstrate flexibility to make your client feel comfortable enough to open up about new developments and issues.
It’s important to keep several metaphorical cards in your therapeutic deck. Not only do different people need different therapeutic methods, but many situations demand unique techniques. What works for one person simply may not help another.
It helps to think of each new development as an opportunity to improve someone’s life. Helping someone overcome new challenges as they arise can help them address longstanding challenges. You must be willing to learn new techniques to give everyone you help the best possible outcome.
The beauty of holding space is that it can create some powerful, positive relationships. Social workers, counselors, and other service professionals can help their clients the most when they have a meaningful therapeutic rapport. This comes with time, so you and your client must be patient.
The more comfortable you make people feel, the more quickly they will trust you. Trust and comfort are critical to establishing a healthy rapport that will yield great results. Maintain the safe space and help your clients adapt to and overcome any hurdle.
You can tell you’ve done your job correctly when you see that you’ve made someone comfortable, no matter what circumstances they’re dealing with. Some people who see social workers and counselors must deal with an enormous amount of stress. Others must navigate everyday anxiety and depression or medical and legal troubles.
You can help someone dealing with any of these circumstances if you prioritize their comfort. Whether you meet for 15 minutes or an hour, their comfort should be your priority. They don’t need to love you per se, but they should be comfortable enough to enable you to help them as much as possible.
This will contribute to more meaningful and effective sessions, which can help your clients heal and handle their situations. You can’t force a safe space, so you must be patient and recognize that a safe space looks different for everyone. Each person you encounter deserves the same comfortable environment, and you can deliver that with the right approach.
