How Counsellors Can Help Clients During Covid-19
Counsellors in the Central Okanagan can help our client’s in multiple ways. It is impossible to deny the unbelievable societal impact of the coronavirus, or otherwise a severe acute respiratory syndrome 2 (SARS-Cov-2). All of us are saturated with regular daily news messages and information related to the pandemic. As this virus continues to spread, it’s high attention from the media, has an increased impact on individuals who may have difficulty differentiating between false, fake, or misinformation and accurate information about the virus.
It is not our intention at all to increase individuals fear in our community about the spread of the coronavirus, but rather to:
- Provide supportive resources that are helpful for staying informed about the COVID-19
- It’s also to update other counselling professionals about how they can support clients impacted by the virus and its societal impact
How this pandemic impacts our clients
It is crucial to understand the social ramifications perpetuated by this outbreak so that we can promote optimal care for the clients we serve.
Individuals who identify as Asian or appear to be of Asian descent may be susceptible to experiencing elevated levels of stress-related to racism and xenophobia generated by misinformation about the virus. The negative impact on affected individuals ranges from financial and emotional to physical. For example, Clients who are directly impacted by this wave of racism and xenophobia may experience a vulnerability and lack of safety, perpetuating stress- and trauma-related symptoms.
There is no doubt that the novel coronavirus poses a major threat to the entire Canadian economy and the health of our country as a whole, but concerns are more pronounced among certain populations.
Of course, many individuals in the general public are fearful (or may become fearful) of contracting the virus. The anticipation of the potential long-term effects of the virus can trigger individual fear and stress-based responses. In addition, an array of compounding or simultaneous stressors can negatively affect individuals’ stress response systems in a chronic manner, meaning that there is no break to return to a healthy physiological state and functioning. These compounding or simultaneous stressors may include:
- Uncertainty about what might happen next to one’s life and health
- The exponential curve of virus-confirmed cases and deaths in the country as reported in the media
- No access or difficulty in accessing health benefits
- Financial constraints due to a recent job loss caused by the pandemic
Stress-based responses may be worsened among those who lack resources such as social support.
This brings us to the reality that many provinces and communities have executed lockdowns, a state of emergency, prompting individuals and families to enter into social isolation. Considering the potential negative psychological effects that may be manifested by social isolation, mental health professionals must be ready to intervene and provide support.
Social distancing, taken as a preventive measure to slow the spread of the disease, largely compromises individuals’ daily functioning. People are experiencing disruptions not just in the areas of employment and schooling but also in accessing emotional support from others or even in having regular interactions with others. Individuals who may not have access to technology to virtually stay connected with significant others for emotional support are especially susceptible to social isolation. Social isolation is a risk factor for a number of health-related concerns, including depression.
As the virus continues to ravage communities around the world, it is also important to note that people everywhere are experiencing the loss of their prepandemic normalcy. As a result, many individuals are having feelings associated with grief. Although this pandemic is hypothesized to be temporary, the impact on lives may be much longer term.
Consider that many nonessential businesses have closed their doors, leaving employees without work or a sustainable income to support their families. Most individuals at this point are restrained from engaging in social endeavors such as participating in team sports, attending classes, visiting museums or engaging in other fun-related activities. Most people can no longer meet up with friends or family for regular social events and may feel a sense of loss as their former routines vanish. Social distancing has also called for the cancellation or postponement of important events such as college and high school graduations, preventing new graduates from sharing in a momentous celebration with one another.
Furthermore, the mortality rate associated with COVID-19 continues to rise. People around the world are experiencing the deaths of loved ones and fellow community members. Additionally, family members are assuming the role of caretakers as their vulnerable loved ones fall ill to the virus. As the responsibility to care for loved ones increases, individuals may have to forfeit or abstain from other regular tasks and duties.
Guidance for Counsellors
Anxiety Management: It is understandable that clients may feel anxious about this situation. Counsellors should normalize and validate clients’ fears. Counselors should also talk to clients about factors that they can and cannot control. Some factors that clients can control include getting regular exercise, making plans to meet with friends and loved ones over virtual platforms, determining their exposure to news sources, practicing good personal hygiene, and limiting the time spent in places such as grocery stores where there may be larger crowds.
If clients appear stressed and anxious about the situation, it is a good idea for counselors to help them gain the facts so that clients can accurately determine their risks in collaboration with their health care providers and take reasonable precautions. Additionally, it is ideal to assist clients in developing and enhancing adaptive coping skills, such as grounding techniques or breathing exercises, so that they can effectively manage their anxiety.
Providing Information: Counsellors must stay aware of the latest information available on the COVID-19 outbreak through their local public health authorities and on websites such as those from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
In addition, the World Health Organization (WHO) frequently publishes coronavirus disease situation reports providing updated information on the outbreak in the world. The WHO website also provides reader-friendly infographics and videos pertaining to protecting yourself and others from getting sick, coping with stress during the pandemic, practicing food safety, and staying healthy while travelling.
Neuroscience News & Research from Technology Networks has provided a short, layperson-friendly video clip titled “What actually happens if you get coronavirus?” that describes how the coronavirus affects the human body.
Counsellors should also encourage their clients to stay informed by providing the previously mentioned resources.
Culturally responsive service in clinical practice: Counsellors in the Central Okanagan can serve as protective and promotive factors when working with individuals who are either directly or indirectly impacted by the coronavirus. Counsellors can promote the mental health and well-being of clients through the establishment of safety in the therapeutic process and providing them with the opportunity to process the implications of this societal issue. Additionally, counsellors can facilitate the process of healing and assist in mediating factors that contribute to individuals’ vulnerability and risk. Therapy can be the catalyst for clients’ adaptability to stressors and adversity brought on by the anticipation of potential consequences from the spread of the virus.
It is essential that counsellors sustain the ethical principles and values of the counselling profession, including kindness, compassion, honesty, integrity, and autonomy when working with clients. Most important is having counsellors that are attuned to clients’ mental health and well-being. Additionally, to do no harm to others. Therapists are encouraged to normalize and validate clients’ concerns while also providing valid psycho-education (not only to our clients but also to the community within the Central Okanagan).
Our counsellors should also be aware that certain ethnic groups, such as those of Aboriginal, African American, and Asian descent, maybe experiencing additional stressors. A certain U.S. President may have made racial comments during the pandemic and we believe this language has contributed to the significant and disproportionate number of verbal and physical attacks on individuals living in the U.S. but the Americans being our neighbour here in Canada it also impacts us too.
We have long since encouraged our counsellors to explore these social and societal challenges with these clients, including how such challenges may be impacting their well-being. Counsellors in the Okanagan should be ready to advocate, support, and provide a voice for persons who may be marginalized and oppressed due to the societal impact of the outbreak.
Conclusion
Our hope is that this article will give professional counsellors and counselling students an opportunity to educate and engage the community with the most relevant information regarding the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, we’re encouraged that other professional counsellors are informed and effectively provided in order to support clients who are affected by the virus and its societal impact. Finally, we encourage all counselling professionals to be involved in preventative measures against further spread of COVID-19. Most certainly, prevention is a cornerstone of our counselling profession.
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For more on this topic, check out the article “Coping with stress of COVID-19” from Our Blog Articles.
