A therapist explains why people reject help: they doubt treatment works, don't believe they can change, or distrust others. Well-meaning support can accidentally enable self-harm or addiction. Validation and kindness matter more than pushing someone toward help they're not ready for.
One of the most liberating things I learned as a therapist who treats fatality is that you're not God. Someone who doesn't want to get help often doesn't want to get help because they don't think it will work. They don't think they're capable of change, or they don't trust that anybody could understand. Who knows if what you were going to do would have helped. A lot of people think they're helping and they're actually feeding the problem. They end up reinforcing self harming behavior or substance abusing behavior, providing resources that actually prevent the person from getting up on their feet. If that's your experience, you've got someone that's suffering. It is critical to be valid and to be kind. That is what I can help you do.
Secret Service Agent: Your Neutral Face Is Making People Distrust You (Here's How to Fix It)
