Possible themes
meaning · values · relationships · hope · worldview
Suggested opening
Would it be helpful to tell me more about what this experience means to you and what support would fit?
Exploration
- What does this experience mean to you?
- What gives you strength, connection, or hope?
- Are any beliefs or practices affecting healthcare decisions?
- Would support from spiritual care or another professional help?
Clinical considerations
Assess symptoms, cognition, mood, safety, decision-making capacity, social context, and treatment implications without diagnosing from one statement.
Referral
Use qualified specialist support when distress, complexity, conflict, or urgency rises.
Urgency indicators
Use immediate medical, psychiatric, safeguarding, ethics, or emergency pathways for suicidal thoughts, inability to remain safe, acute psychiatric symptoms, severe delirium, abuse, coercion, or a time critical treatment conflict.
Documentation example
Patient described concern in their own words. Explored meaning, sources of strength, preferences, healthcare implications, and desired support. Appropriate referral offered; follow-up planned.