Mental Health6 Products to Consider for your Mental Health Practice

Formal education and relevant licensure are necessary prerequisites for anyone looking to venture into the mental health field.

However, your patients may not be so convinced in your ability to help them from the start, whether they’ve verbally expressed it or not. It’s good that these people are taking the right steps to help themselves, but oftentimes, they can’t help but feel wary and anxious in the new environment.

As their new, professional confidant, you’ll want to establish trust with them. And to do so, you’d benefit greatly from having the right tools and products to supplement your practice, helping potentially cultivate a space that’s ideal for you and soothing for your clients.

Here are a few products that should be in every mental health practiontier’s office.

1) A Digital Tablet

It’s standard practice for professionals to take down notes to keep track of a patient’s progress. A laptop or personal computer may seem like the best option, but the problem with it is that it may inadvertently create a sense of distance between you and your patient. This could make them feel uncomfortable and slow or unwilling to divulge sensitive information.

A tablet serves essentially the same functions as a computer, enabling mental health professionals to take down notes, show forms of media like videos, and retrieve client information. A wide variety of current-generation tablets offer the processing capability of a laptop and the portability of a smartphone. And unlike a PC, tablets are small and don’t take up much room—allowing you and your client to maintain their proximity and feel at ease.

All these features are invaluable to mental health practitioners. If your current tablet is starting to show signs of age, consider upgrading to a newer model. This can make performing its functions a more efficient and easy experience.

2) Potted Houseplants

The ambience of your office can have a profound effect on your patient’s mental state. If designed correctly, it can help them feel freer and less like they’re enclosed in a small, confined space.

One way to spruce up your office is by giving it a plant lift! A study has found that participants who stayed in a room with a houseplant felt an elevation in their mood in under 20 minutes.

If you’re thinking up what type of plants to get, consider getting a tall one. Norfolk pine, parlour palm, dragon tree, or a weeping fig can all look spectacular in an office setting.

The reason for a tall plant’s potency stems from its ability to make people feel more relaxed and at peace, which is a much-needed state to be in in the patient’s case for practitioners to be able to accomplish their job to the best of their abilities.

Of course, miniature ones are excellent picks for your deskside too. Some good options include cacti, aloe vera, and succulents.

3) Safe Foam Chairs

Mental health chairs are an essential part of a practitioner’s office. These pieces of furniture promote feelings of comfort and relaxation in the patient, increasing the likelihood of them becoming more open and honest with you.

Mental health chairs are different to standard chairs in that they’re meticulously designed to promote the safety and well-being of the patient. Aside from being cushioned with multiple layers in the seat, these pieces of furniture also have a back construction that provides lumbar support.

Knightsbridge mental health furniture is designed specifically for people working in a mental health setting. They come in a variety of furniture pieces, ranging from chairs and tables to beds and drawers. These items not only provide comfort and functionality but also gives the environment a professional look.

4) Tissue Box Holder

Those working in the mental health field are all too familiar with its highly emotional nature. Buried emotions that have been recently uncovered can be quite intense, and you, as the practitioner, need to be prepared for it.

A tissue box holder is a much-needed item to have in your practice. It’s a functional item that does its job exactly as advertised—carry tissue paper. A neutral-coloured one is great to maintain the distraction-less atmosphere and sense of calm the room intends to present. You may also scour around for different colours and designs, helping you tie in your desired office aesthetic.

5) Stationary and Drawing Materials

Many types of therapy exist; one of which being art therapy. This therapy utilises art to help people increase their self-awareness and deal with strong emotions. To even begin this form of therapy, stationary and art supplies are absolute musts.

But even if your specialty doesn’t fall under this category, having art supplies lying around can still be beneficial for clients. This is especially true for people who feel more comfortable doing something, such as doodling, as they express themselves in your office.

Have a variety of stationary and drawing materials like paints, pencils, paper, markers, and the like at your disposal. Be sure to get good-quality ones too, as they last longer and provide a better visual and tactile experience.

6) Stress Relief Toys

Having stress relief toys in your office can also be beneficial for staving off feelings of anxiety. These toys come in different forms and shapes, but they all ultimately fulfil the same purpose.

Having both kid-friendly and adult-friendly toys are a good idea. If you find your patient needs one, encourage them to use these toys to ease their nerves. You may store them in a box labelled appropriately to make your adult clients feel comfortable with one.

Examples of stress-relief toys include:

• Stress balls
• Scalp massager
• Rubik’s cube
• Fidget spinner
• Kinetic sand

By having these items in your office, you can help make patients feel more at ease during their sessions, which is always desirable.

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