Helping Clients Navigate Complicated Topics
If you haven’t experienced it already, you’ll soon be familiar with just how many times clients ask about new health trends and other wellness information.
You’ll be asked to share your opinion, probably more than you’d like. The constant questions and not having an answer for them can be overwhelming. But you don’t have to tip-toe around complex topics.
Being wholly educated on health and wellness is a superpower when it’s time to help your clients navigate complicated topics.
Read on for guidance on how to navigate these intricate conversations in an honest yet confident way.
Encourage Self-Education and Research
Ultimately, your clients are leading their health and wellness journeys and, therefore, should be encouraged to do their own research and equip themselves with the knowledge that empowers healthy habits and behaviors.
So, when they come to you with complicated topics, share what you know but encourage them to find out more. Urge them to thoroughly evaluate the information for credibility, accuracy, and any red flags. And to use resources with reliable health information that is research-backed and can be fact-checked.
You can also help clients navigate complicated topics by admitting when you’re unfamiliar with a subject and committing to expanding your knowledge on it.
When You’re Unfamiliar, Be Honest About it
The last thing you want to do is act like you know about something you don’t, share inaccurate information about it, and your client goes home and does something harmful to their person. Not only will you feel terrible about it, but it could also cause liability issues for your spa, salon, or wellness establishment.
Instead, admit you’re unfamiliar with the topic and do further research. Then, use it as an opportunity to grow your knowledge and pass along only information that will keep your clients safe and healthy.
For instance, let’s say a client comes in with a question about a fad diet they recently heard of. You aren’t sure, but you do know if it sounds too good to be true; it usually is. With a bit more research, your instincts are validated. Not only are you able to save your client from engaging in something harmful, but you also learn more about dangerous health fads and how to spot them.
Ultimately, you can confidently share tips that keep your clients away from harmful health practices when you’re transparent about what you don’t know and are willing to learn more about it.
Lastly, if you must share, have a balanced perspective while doing so.
Only Share Balanced Information
If you must share, do it with balance. Share the full scope of a topic and allow the client to choose what they absorb.
For example, self-care is often promoted as something that can do all good and no harm. However, there’s a whole other side to self-care that is less talked about that explores how self-care can do more harm than good when used to overshadow the need for professional mental health help.
You should be discussing this side with your clients and encouraging them to know when they can’t do it alone, as much as the other side that says self-lead care can help everything. It’s all about balance.
Conclusion
Helping clients navigate complicated topics isn’t easy.
But it’s much more productive when you’re honest about what you don’t know and commit to only sharing complete information.
Also, ensure you’re encouraging your clients to educate themselves and perform their own research, so they can fully understand complicated topics.
