4️⃣Reframing
Lady or witch?
This classic example of an optical illusion demonstrates that two people can look at the SAME IMAGE and see two completely different things. Reframing as a peer supporter utilizes this to benefit someone’s mental health.
Imagine a man on a subway
Reframing is exactly what it sounds like: taking the way someone views a situation and offering them a new perspective. Imagine sitting at a table and looking at a statue. From your side of the table, you see one aspect of the statue, while someone on the opposite side sees a different one. By inviting them to view the statue from your angle, they will see a new side and gain a different understanding.
In the context of mental health, people often adopt self-defeating perspectives. As a mentor, you have the opportunity to offer a different, more empowering viewpoint. You can help shift their focus to a perspective that uplifts and empowers rather than one that is limiting and negative.
This reframing can significantly change how individuals interpret their circumstances, which in turn can transform their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. By simply offering a new way to look at a situation, mentors provide a powerful tool that can inspire positive change without demanding anything from the mentee except to see their situation from a different perspective.