Turning Lemons to Lemonade: Starting Counseling During COVID-19

Not sure if you’re in need of therapy during this time? We explore some reasons that having an online session could really help you out during this Covid-19 pandemic. 

Facing the Unknown

Facing something that we don’t understand can be daunting, no matter which stage of your life you are in. Dealing with the uncertainty can lead to feelings of anxiety and overwhelm. We feel as though we have lost control and we’re dealing with an ‘invisible’ threat. Having a therapy session could help you make sense of what is happening in the world and allow you to develop tools and tricks for dealing with the bouts of stress and uncertainty. 

Adapting Your Relationships

Big changes tend to influence our relationships in various ways. During a time of uncertainty you’ll find people dealing with their distress in different manners. Your partner might be the type that researches every single piece of data they can find, whereas you prefer to focus on other things and use soothing to stay calm. 

It’s important to ask your partner or family members how they prefer being dealt with during this time. As a family, you might want to increase family time and family activities, but your introverted daughter might still need her alone time and prefer staying in her room. Keep in mind that we all have our coping skills, and where possible it’s important to respect and support the others’ way of dealing, unless, of course - it’s detrimental to their health and the dynamic of the family as a whole. For instance, if your partner is dealing with a mental health condition it might be beneficial for you to seek out therapy to learn how to best support them. 

Learning Emotional Regulation

Many of us aren’t used to sitting with our feelings and emotions like we are now. We might have memories of past traumas coming to the surface and it could feel very overwhelming. If you are used to suppressing your emotions and just pushing forward - this collective ‘pause’ could be a big trigger. During a counseling session you enter a safe space where you can explore all your thoughts and feelings without any judgement. 

Your therapist will be able to help you create healthy coping mechanisms and tools to self-soothe during distressing and turbulent times. 

Responsibilities and Expectations

The lockdown regulations in certain areas have led to family members having to fulfill various roles that they maybe didn’t before. For instance, the career-mom now has to try her hand at homeschooling her children, or some individuals lost their jobs and are under immense financial pressure. Seeing a therapist could assist you in defining these new roles and help you create an action-plan for dealing with the current changes. 

Not everyone flourishes in this amount of social distancing. Not everyone can bake banana bread or start a new exercise routine. Beware of the social pressure and assumed expectations. Your therapist could help you release the pressure and set up realistic goals and challenges. 

We can all do with a little extra care and a safe space to be ourselves. We are offering online sessions for those in need of therapeutic intervention, but also to anyone feeling any discomfort and distress relating Covid-19, and individuals dealing with grief and loss during this time.