Supporting A Loved One
Supporting a loved one and how Palladium Private can help
It’s not always easy to be a support person, it can be a challenging and thankless task. Chances are you are not trained in this area and it can leave you questioning whether you are doing the right thing, supporting in the right way and if all the effort is actually making a difference. This page gives you an overview into what we do at Palladium Private and some information on how to support a loved one during and after a retreat stay.
Firstly, we want you to know that the support you provide your loved one does make a difference. Just being there so that they know they can turn to you for support gives them peace of mind, and whether they say it or not, they do appreciate it. It always helps to know someone is there.
It can become overwhelming if you think that you are obligated to the role of support person, or feel that you cannot take a break. Especially when it comes to offering emotional support, know that there are others that can support your loved one, there are professional therapists that can support them.
Our Approach
We largely follow what is termed, biopsychosocial. It is an integrated approach to health which acknowledges the connection between our mind, body and environment.
These three areas are addressed at Palladium Private and attention and importance needs to be given to them upon your loved ones’ return home.
To learn more about our approach you can visit our Treatment page or Our Program page.
Aftercare Support
Since each client has their own individual treatment plan, no two clients will get the same set of tools, however, there are some foundational practices and principles that all clients will have learnt. The methods of support we explain below are to aid in the maintenance of your loved ones’ wellbeing after completing the Palladium Private program.
The first method is to encourage them to get in contact with their retreat therapist and participate in their aftercare. At Palladium Private, we do not consider the program complete once they leave the retreat.
The retreat stay is the beginning of their treatment and the first couple of weeks post stay is very important in integrating the learning. Most psychological treatment plans are at least 3-6 months long and many are ongoing. Your loved ones’ residential program at Palladium Private gives a good start and momentum but it is not the end of the treatment.
They then need support learning to use their new tools on challenging events that come up once returning home. Chances are they they will slip back into some old patterns of behaviour. Changing behaviours is often two steps forward, one step backwards. They are still moving forward and it is important to focus on the positive when supporting them and encouraging them to engage the support of their therapist when they are triggered into old patterns.
For a complete list of the aftercare support and resources that Palladium Private offers, please visit Our Program page.
How Palladium Private Can Help Your Loved One
The main role as a support person is to help them engage in their life. You do not need to take on the role of therapist or disciplinary, but rather motivate them to engage, give it a go and involve them in activities that are supportive and healthy.
Being a support person is challenging but if you see your role as about adding connection and love to their life, then it can be a very beneficial experience.
To take the first step to a better life for your loved one, just make the call to one of our admission team who can listen and then tailor a program to suit your needs. Or if you prefer, fill in your details on our online enquiry form and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible. Call Palladium Private on 1300 573 095.
In the interim, we invite you to download our Support Person Guidebook. We’ve put together some tips for support people who are looking for guidance when taking care of their loved one experiencing mental health or dependency issues.