Introduction – Help Clients Out of Reactive Mode

We go into reactive mode temporarily when feeling threatened. Unfortunately, mysterious symptoms bring uncertainty, and clients often live in continuous reactive mode, which can wreak havoc on their physical and mental health.

The body and mind are more reactive in this mode, making meaningful progress challenging. Thinking becomes black-and-white, and clients often want exact answers to feel better quickly:

As we have discussed, we do not have exact evidence-based answers to their questions. However, we can help clients experiment systematically (module #10) to find changes that improve their quality of life. This process requires self-reflection, which is difficult in reactive mode. So, the first step with many clients is to help them soften into a responsive mode (the opposite of reactive mode).

Typically, we are not helping clients with their stressors (e.g., decisions about a job, family, etc.) but are supporting them with tools to mitigate the effect of that stress. When talking with clients about mental health, we must respect our practice scope and not cross boundaries (check with your regulatory college). According to my regulatory college, dietitians can help clients identify inaccurate thoughts (e.g., I am a terrible person for eating three cookies; I might as well eat the entire bag) and consider a different perspective (I wish I had not eaten those cookies, but I am only human). However, we cannot talk with clients about why they have those thoughts. If the client needs further help, we must refer them to a mental health specialist.