Free Supportive Therapy
Helping Healthcare Workers Take Care of Themselves
OFFERING FREE SUPPORTIVE THERAPY
Physicians and other frontline health care professionals are particularly vulnerable to Negative Mental Health Effects as they strive to balance the duty of caring for patients with concerns about their own well-being and that of their family and friends.
A Personal Note of Appreciation Concern and Care from Dr. Ellyn Gamberg
In appreciation for your dedication in such a critical time of need, I am offering FREE 45-minute sessions of Support Therapy to those Frontline Healthcare workers in hospitals struggling during this very challenging time of COVID-19. I want to say Thank You. As a Licensed Psychotherapist, I can help you process, grieve, take a deep breath or cry; or to simply listen if that is what you need. Your time with me is a private space where you can feel and be. Talk therapy and mindful techniques can help address the very common feelings of depression, prolonged sadness, difficulty sleeping, intrusive memories and/or feelings of hopelessness you might be feeling.
Sessions
Will be offered April 1, 2020 through May 31, 2020; and may extend beyond based upon need, and the length of the pandemic.
Times
Tuesdays: 8:00am -12:00pm
Thursdays 4:00pm – 8:00pm
*Requests can be made for special times if available.
*If at any time after free sessions end, and you if you wish to become a patient in my practice you will have the flexibility to choose your own times for sessions. In addition, you will have access to emergency and after hour sessions.
Format
All sessions will be conducted virtually through Zoom.
Forms
You will need to fill out a short questionnaire prior to your first session.
Cost
NONE. You will not receive any bills, and there is NO cost to you.
Confidentiality
All sessions remain confidential.
Contact
1. Feel free to feel your feelings
You and your colleagues are likely to feel immense pressure given the potential surge in care demands, risk of infection and equipment shortages, among other stressors. Experiencing stress and the feelings associated with it are by no means a sign of weakness or a reflection on your ability to do your job.
2. Intentionally employ coping strategies
Put into practice strategies that have worked for you in the past during times of stress. These can include getting enough rest and finding respite time during work or between shifts, eating meals (ideally, healthy food, on a schedule), engaging in physical activity and staying in contact (with appropriate social distancing) with family and friends.
3. Perform regular check-ins with yourself
Monitor yourself for symptoms of depression/stress disorder such as prolonged sadness, difficulty sleeping, intrusive memories and/or feelings of hopelessness. Talk to a trusted colleague or supervisor. Be open to seeking professional help if symptoms persist or worsen over time.
4. Take breaks from the news and social media
Make a regular habit of stepping away from your computer and smart phone from time to time. When returning online, focus on information from reputable sources, not just sources in your social media feed. You don’t have to take in everything produced by a 24/7 news cycle.
5. Be fortified by remembering the importance and meaning of your work
Remind yourself that despite the current challenges and frustrations, yours is a noble calling – taking care of those in need in a time of great uncertainty. Make sure to take time to recognize the efforts and sacrifices made by your colleagues. Together, we are all stronger.
Help take care of your patients’ mental health Consider including Mental Health and Psychosocial response activities, to help yourself feel less helpless.
1. Establish a system to identify and provide care for mental health conditions
Ideally, every health care practice already has or can put in place a system (along with at least one staff member trained) to identify and provide care for patients with common and severe mental health conditions during this time. This is particularly important since the stigma associated with mental health may cause patients to be reluctant in seeking support for both COVID-19
and any mental health condition(s). Also, previously stable individuals may become less stable.
2. Provide clear understandable communication to patients
Use “plain English” in messages with patients, particularly those with intellectual, cognitive and psychosocial disabilities and employ approaches to communication that do not rely solely on written information where possible.
5. Incorporate guidance about stress into general care practices
Emotional distress and anxiety are common during pandemics such as the COVID-19
outbreak. It is important to help patients acknowledge that stress exists and help normalize it. Basic strategies can be used to teach them how to recognize signs of distress (such as worry, fear, insomnia, etc.) and when discussing ways to reduce them (e.g., healthy diet, exercise, talking to loved ones, meditation, etc.). Additional forms of treatment, such as cognitive behavioral therapy, can also be effective.
SOURCE: American Medical Association Medical Disclaimer. The AMA Content is provided for informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice, or as a substitute for the medical advice of a physician. https://www.ama-assn.org/delivering-care/public-health/managing-mental-health-during-covid-19
