Because I am moving to another state, I am unable to take new clients until July 2021. After the move, I will still be licensed in the state of Texas and, therefore, able to continue to seeing any clients who understand and agree to see me by video or phone only.
For the time being, I will only be seeing clients remotely — that is, by video or phone (your choice). My hours remain the same, and you can still schedule our conversations in the usual ways: by texting/emailing/calling me or my assistant, Darbi, or through the online scheduling calendar.
During our sessions, this is where I’ll usually be:
Of special interest to some of you: My colleagues at Affordable Counseling Collaborative Associates are also available for your lower-cost counseling needs. You’ll find them through the link to their site.
Stay safe and healthy, and flex your emotional management muscles!
It’s likely been a rough week for you and those around you. Besides constant streams of news, you’re probably being bombarded with emails from all kinds of companies and organizations letting you know what they are doing to handle this current public health situation. Me, too.
I want to offer another window to see through… It is possible that some “good things” might come from this experience. I’m not dismissing what it feels like/seems like right now. And I also think the best things that might come in the near future from this distressing event depend a whole lot on our intentional, conscious use of the moment.
This idea struck me yesterday after opening yet another email from some company saying that they care so much for their consumers, and here’s how they’re demonstrating that concern… While, yes, these businesses are doing so partly to keep their business going, it’s also been kind of nice to hear so many expressions of “We’re all in this thing together.” There’s never been quite enough of that thought in this world.
So I added these thoughts to my own coping toolbox.
When I start to feel the tension in my neck, shoulders, and back that reflects my mind’s anxiety, I do a few things to restore myself to immune-boosting/restoring relative calm. I invite you to join me:
Imagine each emailed expression of solidarity with humanity as genuine. Take 3 seconds to conjure up images of actual people discussing and then writing those emails. Repeat any words to myself that are calming — things like “We’re going to get through this together. Yes.”
If you wish to add a very brief meditative practice to your immunity-building activities, try this — you can do this virtually anywhere, no need to find any special kind of place or time:
Pull your vision away from any screen that may be in front of you. Let your gaze gently turn toward the ground, but keep your head erect.
Straighten your posture by imagining the very top of your head is connected to the sky and being gently lifted upward. Move your shoulders down and slightly back, causing your chest to rise and move forward a little.
If possible, flatten your feet (in shoes or not) to the ground. If not possible, at least try to uncross your legs and feet, and wiggle your toes.
If possible, raise your arms briefly over your head and reach for the sky. If not, straighten your arms in front of you or down your sides, focusing on opening your hands wide, stretching your fingers. Then release your hands and arms.
While you are doing the above slow, light, gentle movements, take a few slow, deep breaths and think to yourself:
This is a moment in time. And here is another one. And another one.
End your “session” (there’s no magic amount of time — do it as long as you want/can) by thinking to yourself:
We’re all learning to be human, together.
If you feel an immediate sense of dismissive scoffing (“This is BS. This won’t change a thing”), just let the thought be there and then drift away, maybe with a little “mm hm” and a friendly pat to your own head.
And Also…
“Out of an abundance of caution” (there’s a phrase I’ve never heard more in my life than in the past 2 weeks), my Houston office colleagues have instituted some protective policies for our clients. You’ll find it on the wall when you come into the office, or you can download it here. And if you’re seeing me at my office in The Woodlands, feel free to take similar actions (like washing your hands when you arrive), but we haven’t hung the policy on the wall there.
If you have a session scheduled in the next two weeks, please look in your email for a Client Portal link to a document called “In Case of an Emergency During Video or Phone Sessions (Telehealth)” — If you choose to reschedule your in-person session to make it by video or phone, I’m asking that you read over and complete the form before your session. It’s not related to the current public health situation, but is a state requirement of any health care professional (including mental health) to have clients complete such a form.
COVID-19 (a new name for the Coronavirus disease 2019) is teaching us some lessons about anxiety and the impact of feeling prepared for possibilities. I’d like to invite you to join me in feeling empowered by taking meaningful actions to “flatten the curve” (as described in this Scientific American blogpost by Zeynep Tufekci) of a potential crisis.
Anxiety is a normal human response to threats, both perceived and real. If you want to manage your anxiety level and keep it at a healthy reality-based level, you can avoid hyper-sensational news headlines and social media posts, and stick to scientific sources of information.
In addition to reading Scientific American, I am also using the U.S. Centers for Disease Control website to stay updated on the latest numbers and any changes in where COVID-19 has been diagnosed.
Besides staying updated on real news about COVID-19, we’ve taken the usual steps that we do every flu season in our offices: You’ll find plenty of handsoap and water for washing (find out how here–>20-seconds each time — sing “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star” to time it, and bonus points if you sing it out loud!), as well as alcohol-based hand sanitizer, and of course, loads of tissues. These things are here for you, and your use of them could help keep a whole community healthy. (We even brought in a few more air-cleaning plants, because you never know… and they’re pretty.)
I’d like to encourage you to feel empowered to cancel any scheduled sessions if you or any of your household members are ill. Plus, I will be happy to hold your session appointments by phone or video, too, if you’re feeling up to it.
Finally, listen to those of us who’ve been here, done this: This is not the first virus outbreak to scare everyone into taking better care of themselves. Feeling panic at such times is only human, but it won’t protect you. If anything, panic could bump up your usual amount of stress and decrease your immune system’s response. So, do what you can to know what you must, unplug daily from the media chatter, take a few steps to feel empowered (like the ones mentioned in the Sci American blogpost,) and bring your gaze & focus back, time and again, to the important people and tasks in your life.
