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During the Codid-19 pandemic, I have had the wonderful honor and pleasure to provide support in answering various questions regarding this provincial, national and worldwide crisis. In counselling Calgary, or in other areas in Alberta such as Airdrie, Brooks and Okotoks, there appear to be many questions on how to deal with the current crisis and what to do during and after the crisis ends.   

Let’s take a closer look at some Common Covid Questions that have been asked.

1. Have people been requesting help with different issues than before the pandemic?

It’s not that clients have been requesting different help per se. It’s more that the current crisis has compressed what was already negatively going on in the client’s life. Like a pressure cooker or volcano, you can only hold down the pressure so long before release of pressure occurs and kaboom, more support is now required to get through these challenging times and working alongside a counselling therapist is a great way safely release the pressure cooker valve in your own life. 

2.Has your practice at New Life Counselling experienced any notable changes during the pandemic, in terms of number of people requesting support or the issues they are facing?

I have definitely observed some interesting ups and down at New Life Counselling. I believe this in part due to the current realties of families being under significant financial strain, work strain, especially if you’re a frontline nurse or small to medium sized business owner. Other considerations are adapting to the stress of things like having to shop longer due to lineups and the emotional, mental ramifications of social isolation (especially if your single or already having challenges with your partner). And finally, if you are ill, immune compromised or have contacted covid-19 this can prevent a client from seeing the therapist, and create a reverse momentum in therapeutic care (i.e. “I know I should go see a therapist, but I’ll wait a bit more until this blows over.”)

I think it’s important to note that I have observed many therapists (including myself) now doing therapy by either phone or online video counselling which is also creating a different kind of apprehension in going to a therapist for support. Not everyone is used to modern day technology, so I have been personally supporting individuals and families in educating them on how to download and use programs such as Zoom to provide a quality online counselling experience.     

3. In your area of influence, have people around you been more responsive to your suggestions than before the pandemic? If so, why do think there has been a change?

I have observed initial positive responses to suggestions made during the initial crisis such as A. Continue with your daily routine. B. Create healthy space between you and your family. and C. Develop normalcy out of your daily routine.

Now that the crisis has begun slightly normalize, I’m still noticing what in my industry is known as basic “stages of change” where some people are open and willing to suggestions for change and others need to find their own solutions no matter what is suggested, however, still need to process their thoughts and emotions to a qualified counselling therapist. Ultimately, people have to find their own personal solutions to their negative circumstances so they can discover their own personal motivation to make effective changes in their lives. With counselling, I have the honor and privilege to positively support the individual, family or couple as they increase their ability to walk in New Life. 

4. Do you find people have been more eager to confront their issues now than before the pandemic?

Most of my answer is the same as question #3, however, I will add that any time trauma is introduced into a person’s life, many people tend to isolate unhealthily and become immobile in their attempt to cope with the crisis. However, due to the crisis at hand, the individual needs care and attention to deal with the trauma first and then can begin to deal with the initial reason the client came to the therapist for care. Addictions, domestic violence or disharmony, anxiety, depression and even life circumstances such as loss of employment are all important factors to consider as to why someone might not be quite ready to confront their personal issues, even though they know they need to deal with their personal challenges.

5. What has surprised you about counselling during a pandemic?

To be honest, not much. This pandemic has created a worldwide trauma based in grief and loss. When counselling, I have just been putting on what is known in my field as a “Trauma Informed Care Lens” when supporting the client.

If anything, I am reminded how resilient, in the moment, people are when crisis hits. However, we must remember, in crisis, there will be long term emotional and mental health consequences when an individual or nation suppresses the thoughts, fears, anger, of the various loss of control that has occurred (health issues, social isolation, ongoing media with constant misinformation, etc…). If continued to be suppressed, like a volcano or pressure cooker, it’s not a matter of if, but when some people will begin to unravel unhealthily….Unless supports are put in place now for individuals and families to begin to access supports and ongoing emotional and mental health education….or down the road when they realize what worked during crisis is not working anymore in their daily lives in attempts to going back to some kind of normalcy.  

6. Are there any demographics, in terms of gender and age, that have proven more resilient than others?

I’m finding that anyone in healthy supportive family units, or, who have been able to develop regular routine and normalcy in their life (even if it’s similar but different), have been doing much better. I have also observed that some individuals with strong religious and cultural backgrounds have also helped to support themselves personally through this crisis in a positive resilient way. Financial stability and proper education in the use of personal protective equipment has also played a key role in being resilient as well. Another area of resiliency has been connecting with those who are in your circle of influence. Yes, it’s not fun not being able to go for coffee with a friend, however, this is a time to be creative and have coffee with your friend online using one of the multiple video formats available on your computer or smartphone…and if you’re not sure how to do this then what a great opportunity to call a friend that can guide you how to set up a video call. That’s just a relational win-win in my opinion.

7. What is your advice for those struggling during these uncertain times?

One of the roots of this crisis is about a loss of control. There are real legitimate fears we must take seriously, rather than perceived fears that many people sometimes deal with. If someone is struggling in an uncertain time then I would suggest someone considers the following….

A. Admit that I have no control in this current circumstance and it is scary and difficult to deal with.

B. Create a schedule. By creating and following a schedule of your daily routine, you can begin to take back control of what you are responsible for.

C. Create Space (part 1). This is not about social isolation, but about creating a healthy space for just having time for yourself to healthily cope with your daily life. This could include meditation, prayer, listening to some new music, reading a book. Anything that fills you up as a person and makes you feel whole and stable as a person.

D. Create Space (Part 2). Intentionally create connection with other people in your life. This includes your partner (if in a relationship), your children (if you have any), your family and friends. Even if your socially isolated due to health issues or being out of the country, you can still have positive engagement with others over the phone or the multitude of online video platforms available. Yes, this is not the same as 1:1 human contact, however, it’s better than nothing which technologically has not been available in previous generations when worldwide crisis has occurred.

E. Seek a qualified counselling therapist to support your journey from crisis to wholeness and a new life.

8. What resources do you suggest to assist individuals with their mental health?

Alberta Health Services has fantastic and current resources that can help support the education of health crisis such as the one we’re in now.

If you have a counselling therapist or are considering seeing one, check out their web page. Many therapists have fantastic resources and links to other sites on their web pages, including blogs. Therapists don’t just put up stuff because it looks pretty. It’s there to help support and further your emotional and mental well-being.

9. How are you holding up in terms of your mental health?

I have had my personal areas of having to work through fears of the pandemic due to personally being immune compromised. Just because I’m a therapist doesn’t mean I’ve had my challenging days, however, as the old-fashioned saying goes “I’m just practicing what I preach.” I have had to step back and look at my own personal fears and anxiety and remind myself that I have gone through other pandemics and health crisis’s such as Nowrwalk, SARS, Chicken Pox outbreaks, etc…When I look back in my past work experience, I have to remind myself that I have thankfully come out okay (even when I caught chicken pox as an adult). I also have to remind myself that if I am properly using the health care training I have received, such as how to take off infected gloves properly and washing my hands after touching possible infected touch points (i.e. door handles and elevator buttons), then I have more control in dealing with my surrounding environment. I am also a big advocate of mindfulness exercises such as deep breathing that I personally practice and suggest that everyone learn and practice daily.

9. What techniques are you using to help reduce anxiety during the pandemic?

Education is vital in this current pandemic. And I don’t mean watching news or media all day long. The education I’m talking about is learning how to use personal protective equipment (PPE) properly. I am amazed at how I continue to see the mishandling of how gloves and masks are put on and off, not to mention the misuse of hand sanitizer and putting globs of it on hands only increasing dryness of hands, creating cracks in the skin, causing potential increase in catching infection when exposed skin touches an unsafe contaminated area. I’m also amazed how many people still do not know how to properly wash their hands or are not paying attention to touch points where they work or when shopping for groceries. When you are educated in the proper use of pandemic hygiene you can help reduce your personal anxiety. Proper hygiene helps to provide one more thing you can control in your life, rather than unhealthily isolating and living in fear.

The other important area to consider is to be mindful of properly breathing in. When living in fear or dealing with anxiety, we often end up shallow breathing which is not what the body needs to survive a pandemic or even when things are going great. We need to be intentionally doing deep breathing exercises which will help us to be more alert, calm and caring in our daily life, individually and with others.