Mental

When we say mental, we are referring to a person’s thoughts and their thought life. The mental can include our memory, recall, imagination, perspective and our interpretation. Because the mental is so complex, taking time in this area is needed in a good mentoring relationship. A mentee may struggle with sharing in this area for a variety of reasons. They may not like addressing what they have struggled with in the past. It may be too difficult to revisit some painful memories. The goal is not to counsel in this area. The goal is to help bring freedom in their inner thought life. Things that fall under this category could include: memories (good and bad), role of social media, anxiety, depression, positive mental health.

If a mentee is having mental difficulty, mentors are usually not equipped to handle the complexities of mental health. The best way to serve a mentee in this area is to refer them to a professional. Your presence in the process will be an invaluable support.