We have a member of staff who has, for some time, been intimidating her colleagues with her behaviour. She believes that she can talk to people who have died in the building and has now been seen by some customers talking to someone who is not there. She openly has conversations with people who are not there (including her spirit guide) in front of colleagues. Her managers are concerned with her wellbeing, that of her colleagues and the potential disruption it could cause to customers if they see her talking to herself.

I need to advise the managers on how to approach the conversation. I have advised them that they should use specific examples of her behaviour and avoid using judgement statements (such as “it’s scary” or “it’s strange”) and concentrate on the potential impact that it could have on her work. I am concerned though that her behaviour may either be as a result of some personal beliefs which we are not currently aware of (she apparently does not open up to her managers or colleagues) or that there may be some underlying issues concerning her mental wellbeing and am unsure about how to start a conversation that will encourage the right answers, particularly if she is normally unwilling to open up and seemingly unaware that her behaviour could be seen as out of the ordinary by anoyone.

Does anyone have any advice?
Rebecca Hewett