How to Refer Patients Successfully to Mental Health Professionals: Effective Advice on Recommending That a Patient Seek Professional Counseling (PATIENT CARE) (Report‪)‬

It's not uncommon to come across patients who genuinely need psychological counseling as a result of their hearing loss by itself or in combination with a personal loss, depression, or other reasons. Here are some tips on how to refer these people to a mental health professional--without alienating them. It is wishful thinking to assume that simply suggesting to patients that they get mental health counseling typically results in follow--through. The process of a dispensing professional referring successfully to mental health professionals is psychologically complicated and--unless the referral is made in a careful and compassionate manner--it will likely result in nonadherence by patients and may damage your professional relationship with them.