How do you deal with a manipulative patient?

The keys to managing encounters with manipulative patients are to be aware of your own emotions, attempt to understand the patient's expectations (which may actually be reasonable, even if his or her actions are not) and realize that sometimes you have to say “no.”


How do you intervene with patients exhibiting manipulative behavior?

The most effective approach with the patient is to maintain a professional therapeutic relationship with clear boundaries. A professional relationship is based on the patient's therapeutic needs, not on being liked or the nurse's personal feelings.

How do you deal with a controlling patient?

Here are six helpful tips for dealing with an angry patient in a professional and productive way.
  1. Stay Calm. ...
  2. Listen to Their Concerns. ...
  3. Find a Way to Connect With the Patient. ...
  4. Set Boundaries. ...
  5. Address Their Concerns. ...
  6. Don't Take It Personally. ...
  7. How to Protect Yourself From a Combative Patient.


How do you respond to a disrespectful patient?

Here are tips that can help you get a positive response at the end of your interaction.
  1. Stay calm and maintain good body posture. ...
  2. Actively listen to the patient. ...
  3. Respond to the anger. ...
  4. Remain calm. ...
  5. Reframe the situation. ...
  6. Acknowledge their grievances. ...
  7. Set boundaries. ...
  8. Acknowledge their concerns.


What is a manipulative patient?

Of course, there are patients who truly fit the description of manipulative: i.e., they intentionally exploit the position, needs, unconscious fears or weaknesses of others in a calculated attempt to gratify their own needs or wishes, usually without concern for the social consequences or the feelings of others.


How to Handle a Manipulative Person | Stephanie Lyn Coaching



How do you outsmart a manipulator?

6 ways to disarm a manipulator
  1. Postpone your answer. Don't give them an answer on the spot. ...
  2. Question their motivations. Manipulators often hide their real motivations because they don't like to take responsibility for their own actions and behaviors. ...
  3. Show disinterest. ...
  4. Impose boundaries. ...
  5. Keep your self-respect. ...
  6. Apply fogging.


What are the 4 stages of manipulation?

The 4 stages of manipulation
  • Flattery. The first stage is when the person who manipulates puts on a facade of being kind, caring, and helpful. ...
  • Isolation. This is when the person who manipulates may start to isolate you from your friends and family. ...
  • Devaluing and gaslighting. ...
  • Fear or violence.


How do you deal with a patient who yells at you?

If a patient is angry enough to verbally abuse you, remain calm and professional. Keep some distance between you and the patient and do not respond until the verbal barrage is over. When it is, speak softly and call the patient by name.


How do you set boundaries with difficult patients?

Set boundaries
  1. Instruct the patient to come to the office only for scheduled follow-up visits and to call only during office hours or in an emergency.
  2. Be upfront about the time allowed for each appointment and ask the patient to help focus the discussion according to his or her main concerns.


How do you deal with a verbally abusive patient?

Responding to Abusive Patient Behavior
  1. Respect Personal Space. ...
  2. Be Aware of Your Own Body Position. ...
  3. Be Empathic to Others' Feelings. ...
  4. Keep Nonverbal Cues Nonthreatening. ...
  5. Ignore Challenging Questions. ...
  6. Set & Enforce Reasonable Limits. ...
  7. Allow Verbal Venting When Possible. ...
  8. Identify the Real Reason for the Behavior.


What are the first signs of a controlling person?

Here's a look at 12 signs that might suggest someone has a controlling personality.
  • They make you think everything's your fault. ...
  • They criticize you all the time. ...
  • They don't want you to see the people you love. ...
  • They keep score. ...
  • They gaslight you. ...
  • They create drama. ...
  • They intimidate you. ...
  • They're moody.


How do you outsmart a control freak?

Don't try to control a control freak.

Judith Orloff advises, "Be healthily assertive rather than controlling. Stay confident and refuse to play the victim. Most important, always take a consistent, targeted approach." Control freaks love a good power struggle; playing into it never ends well.

What is the most difficult type of patients?

Understand the four types of 'difficult' patients
  1. Dependent clingers. Early in the medical relationship, these are the patients who pour on the praise. ...
  2. The entitled demander. ...
  3. The manipulative help-rejecting complainer. ...
  4. The self-destructive denier.


What are the three stages of manipulation?

Under this model, the stages of manipulation and coercion leading to exploitation are explained as follows:
  • Targeting stage. The alleged abuser may:
  • Friendship-forming stage. The alleged abuser may:
  • Loving relationship stage. Once they have established trust, the alleged abuser may:
  • Abusive relationship stage.


How do you defend against manipulators?

4 Ways to Protect Yourself From Manipulative People
  1. Surround yourself with knowledgeable, supportive people. ...
  2. Remind yourself constantly of your goals and priorities. ...
  3. Communicate your intent. ...
  4. Call it like you see it.


How do nurses deal with manipulative patients?

With manipulative patients, it is important to set limits, say “no” when you have to, remain cognizant of your own emotions, and understand the patient's expectations, which can, in fact, be reasonable despite their actions.

How do you communicate with hostile patients?

10 Ways to Stay Calm and Clearly Communicate With Difficult Patients
  1. Listen intently. ...
  2. Show them you're listening. ...
  3. Stay calm. ...
  4. Validate the patient's emotions. ...
  5. Ask the patient questions. ...
  6. Apologize only when you've come up short. ...
  7. Be politely powerful with patients in error. ...
  8. Deliver a solution.


How do you chart a patient rude behavior?

For instance, you should never chart something like, “Patient uncooperative, will not take medications.” Instead, simply write, “Patient refuses medications.” If a patient is rude, inappropriate or even hostile, don't record those subjective judgments in your notes; instead write, “Patient made verbal threats toward ...

How do you deal with an imposing person?

If you're dealing with an Imposer, start keeping track of what they say and do. Facts to an imposer (and narcissists) are like daylight and garlic to vampires. Be factual, not emotional in any dealings and they will soon back off. Often, people try to appeal to an imposer's emotions with emotional descriptions.

What are 4 ways to deal with an angry patient?

DON'T's
  • Stop, focus, and use your best listening skills. Stop whatever you are in the middle of doing. ...
  • Remain calm and commit to keeping your cool. ...
  • Sympathize and acknowledge the anger. ...
  • Apologize. ...
  • Look for a solution.


How do you calm an agitated patient?

Surprise agitated patients with kindness to help them get better.
  1. Start by being respectful and understanding.
  2. Show you want to help, not jail them.
  3. Repeat yourself. ...
  4. Offer a quiet place for the patient to be alone to calm down. ...
  5. Respect the patient's personal space.
  6. Identify the patient's wants and feelings.
  7. Listen.


What mental illness causes manipulation?

Manipulation is generally considered a dishonest form of social influence as it is used at the expense of others. Manipulative tendencies may derive from personality disorders such as borderline personality disorder, narcissistic personality disorder, or antisocial personality disorder.

How do you stop a manipulator in their tracks?

How to Deal with Gaslighting and Stop Your Manipulator in Their...
  1. Try to Recognize What's Happening. ...
  2. Confront Them About Their Behavior. ...
  3. Compile Proof. ...
  4. Decide Whether the Relationship Is Worth It. ...
  5. Lean on Friends and Family. ...
  6. Prioritize Self Care. ...
  7. Seek Professional Help.


What are 3 signs that someone is trying to manipulate you?

Signs of Manipulation
  • They know your weaknesses and how to exploit them.
  • They use your insecurities against you.
  • They convince you to give up something important to you, to make you more dependent on them.


What are manipulators afraid of?

They are afraid of vulnerability. Manipulators seldom express their needs, desires, or true feelings. They seek out the vulnerabilities in others in order to take advantage of them for their own benefits and deflect their true motives. They have no ability to love, empathy, guilt, remorse, or conscience.