Tempted to Say It’s All in Your Head? Try THIS Instead

When people are struggling with their mental health, they tend to bring it up with their primary care doctor first.

And while I love that my patients feel comfortable bringing these issues to me, I don’t always feel like I have the time or expertise to facilitate a really good conversation and address their concerns effectively.

So, more often than not, I end up writing a prescription.

What can PCPs do to engage in better conversations with patients about their symptoms of anxiety and depression? How can we work with psychiatrists to support patients around their mental health?

Shelby Riley is the Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist behind Shelby Riley, LMFT & Associates, a practice based in Chester Springs, Pennsylvania, that offers therapy to individuals, couples, teens, kids and families.

On this episode of Tell Me More, Shelby explains what most primary care doctors do well in mental health conversations with patients and how we can improve simply by making sure people know we care.

Shelby discusses the challenge therapists face in giving patients very difficult feedback and describes the advantage she has over PCPs in being able to model repair when she handles a conversation poorly. 

Listen in for Shelby’s insight on being honest with patients when a mental health concern is out of our scope of practice and learn how patients can prepare for conversations with their PCP around mental wellbeing.

Key Takeaways  How PCPs and psychiatrists can work as a team to support patients around their mental health

How most PCPs give patients good options for dealing with mental health concerns

Why primary care doctors should encourage therapy vs. relying on medication alone to address anxiety and depression

Shelby’s advice on working with teens and young adults experiencing mental health issues

How it’s received by patients when a PCP says, ‘There’s nothing wrong with you; it’s all in your head’ (and how to reframe the message effectively)

How PCPs might approach conversations about weight from a place of love, not judgement

The challenge therapists face in giving patients very difficult feedback

Shelby’s experience of feeling physically unsafe with a client and the steps she takes to keep her team safe

What Shelby does when a patient needs a higher level of care than her outpatient therapy practice provides

The advantage therapists have in being able to model repair when they handle a conversation poorly

What Shelby does if a patient is working with a healthcare professional she doesn’t trust

Why making patients feel you care is more important than the words you use in conversation

Shelby’s advice to patients on initiating the mental health conversation with your PCP

Why Shelby suggests being honest with patients when PCPs feel out of our depth in mental health conversations

Connect with Ms. Riley Shelby Riley, LMFT & Associates

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