Core Values of The Patient Approach

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1. Empathy

- Understanding others’ experiences without judgment.

- Listening deeply and validating emotions. 

2. Mutuality 

- Relationships are built on shared experience, not clinical expertise. 

3. Respect & Dignity 

- Each person is seen as whole and capable. 

- All perspectives are respected. 

4. Safety & Confidentiality 

- Creating an environment where people feel safe to share. 

- Clear boundaries and respect for privacy. 

5.Empowerment 

- Supporting people in finding their own answers. 

6. Inclusivity 

- Welcoming people from all backgrounds and identities. 

7. Presence & Compassionate Witnessing

- Being with someone in their pain, without needing to change it. 

- Honouring silence, uncertainty, and emotional intensity with calm presence. 

- Acknowledging that healing often begins with simply being seen and heard.

8. Hope & Meaning-Making

- Belief that healing is possible even after profound loss. 

- Supporting people in finding personal meaning in their experience, without rushing or imposing a narrative. 

9. Integrity & Trustworthiness

- Acting with honesty, clarity, and follow-through. 

- Being transparent about what peer support is and isn’t. 

- Upholding boundaries consistently, which builds trust in moments of vulnerability. 

10. Cultural Sensitivity & Humility

- Recognizing that experiences of health, illness, grief, and loss are shaped by culture, faith, identity, and community. 

- Staying open, curious, and respectful, avoiding assumptions. 

11. Honouring the Full Range of Human Emotions 

- Seeing emotional responses (grief, fear, anger, numbness) as human, not as symptoms or problems to “fix.”

- Holding space for all responses without judgment. 

12. Responsiveness & Flexibility

- Adapting support to meet people where they are emotionally, physically, and situationally. 

- Being attuned to each person’s shifting needs as they process trauma or loss.