Having worked as a Psychiatrist for many years with people from very different cultural backgrounds, I have learned that communication between patient and psychiatrist is the most important aspect of the therapeutic relationship.

It goes beyond the language. It is about understanding the soul. It makes feel the patient reassured that the psychiatrist or the therapist has understood the bigger picture, that there is strict confidentiality and no judgement when it comes to sensitive aspects. The feeling of being understood is of immense therapeutic value. 

The patient and the  Psychiatrist feel mutually reassured that they have understood each other and, from that moment onwards, a 2-way road has been paved. I could never work with a person without the knowledge that I have understood everything. 

Some problems are difficult to resolve and, when potential options are offered, we need to make sure that these options are based on scientific evidence but also tailored to this particular person’s situation and preferences. 

There are times when hope is lost, when everything is dark and bleak, but just the possibility to share it in a safe, genuinely-caring and supportive environment can make all the difference to find hope in hopelessness. 

There are times when there is unhappiness arising from physical pain, difficult relationships between family members, disability, feeling different, feeling discriminated, and from many other situations. Feeling believed, understood and validated are the initial, and fundamental, steps towards empowerment. This can only be achieved with exquisite communication. 

Yet, previous experiences could influence the mindset when going to see a psychiatrist. It will be difficult to change until the person encounters a new and positive experience. People can be apprehensive to open up, and it is when the psychiatrist’s interpersonal skill, beyond any science, plays a crucial role. I am of the opinion that it cannot be learned, it has to be natural; it reflects the genuine interest on the well-being of the person we have in front of us. I always think that if you have a caring attitude, you explore all options to help the person.