Hi Visitor

COVID-19: Practice Update & Resources for You

As a psychologist in private practice, I am aware of the concerns regarding the outbreak of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). The situation is changing rapidly and the top priority for all of us remains the health, safety, and well-being of ourselves, our family and loved ones, and our community as a whole. 

My practice is open

At this point, my practice has not experienced any COVID-19 incidents that would be a cause for a change and my practice remains open and operational.

Alternative to face-to-face sessions in my consulting room

If anyone would prefer not to come into my consulting room, for whatever reason, I am more than happy to change their appointment from a session in my consulting room to a session that is online.

I have a thriving online practice with clients all over the world engaging in successful psychotherapy or coaching. Please contact me for more details or visit my website for more information: Online Counselling and Life Coaching

Cancellations

My cancellation policy remains the same. Please give me at least 24 hours notice if you wish to cancel or reschedule your appointment.

Appointments not kept or cancelled with less than 24 hours’ notice will be charged at the full rate, payable immediately.  My response confirms your cancellation.

If you are concerned about getting Covid-19 please consider an online session.

If you have to go into self-quarantine/self-isolation, please consider an online session.

Support at this difficult time

The outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) may be stressful for people. Fear of the unknown, a feeling of loss of control, anxiety and stress about the disease and its impact on finances, school, work, travel and lifestyle can be overwhelming and cause strong emotions.

There are four things you can do to help yourself and your loved ones:

1. Remain calmly informed 

• Stay aware of the latest information. Knowing what’s going on can reduce anxiety and the fear of the unknown.
• BUT only pay attention to reliable, authoritative sources of information and tune out the rest. 

The following websites are recommended:

The situation (updated regularly)

• Johns Hopkins University interactive map: https://www.arcgis.com/apps/opsdashboard/index.html#/bda7594740fd40299423467b48e9ecf6

Health advice

• World Heath Organisation: https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/advice-for-public
• USA Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: https://www.cdc.gov/
• South African Dept of Health Online Resource and News Portal: https://sacoronavirus.co.za/

2. Assess your risk

Ask yourself: 

• Is there any reason to think that I am at risk?
• Are there diagnosed cases where I live, work and play?
• If there are, have I come in contact with them?

If yes, follow medical procedures regarding what steps to take, as given by reliable resources such as those mentioned above.

If no, follow the advice regarding prevention (again from reliable resources).

3. Do simple risk management

Decide what you can most effectively do to decrease your risk of getting sick (and conversely, increase your chance of staying healthy or of getting better) and consistently do them. Again follow the advice of reliable sources such as those mentioned above.

4. Manage your mental health

Reduce your anxiety

• Take breaks from watching, reading, or listening to news stories, including social media. Constantly hearing about the pandemic can be stressful.
• Try to keep up with regular routines. If schools are closed, for example, create a schedule for learning activities and relaxing or fun activities.
• People with pre-existing mental health conditions should continue with their treatment and be aware of new or worsening symptoms. Please be sure to bring any new or worsening symptoms to the attention of your mental health professional.
• Connect with others. Talk with people you trust about your concerns and how you are feeling. 
• Consider speaking to a mental health professional - we are well trained to help people deal with stress, anxiety, depression, isolation etc.

You might find the following articles which I have written and posted on my website useful:

• Axe Anxiety
• The Challenge of Change

Develop resilience

Resilience is an individual’s capacity to withstand stress and catastrophe. Resilient individuals are able to adjust emotions, thoughts and behaviours to situations and conditions of change and recover quickly from a setback.  Individuals who are resilient build social support, focus on positive emotions and find meaning in their experiences. Nearly everyone has the capacity to be resilient and we can increase this capacity no matter what our age or personal history. 

You might find my article on resilience useful in helping you to do this: Resilience: The Bounce Back Factor!

Deal with the emotional aspects of isolation

On the whole, extroverts will find self-isolation and quarantine situations harder to handle than introverts. Extraverts like a variety of external stimulation and having people around them, while introverts like solitude and privacy and feel alone time is important. 

My articles Understanding Extraverts and Introverts and Raising an Introverted Child will give you more insight into the extroverted and introverted personalities.

Regards

About These Emails

You may have been forwarded this email by a friend. In that case, allow me to introduce myself. I am a psychologist, speaker, trainer, coach and hat lover based in Kloof, a suburb of Durban, South Africa. I also do online counselling and coaching and I have clients all over the world.

My goal is to inspire you to make the changes necessary to live the life of your dreams! I believe that by developing your YOU-Q - the term I have created to describe your unique intelligence, creativity and wisdom - you can find your Inner winner and live a Be-YOU-tiful life right now.

On my website you'll find lots of free articles, posters and worksheets. I have written and created them all with the intention of helping you find your inner winner. Read, them use them, share them!

Click here to read previous newsletters and subscribe to receive my free occasional newsletters.

Contact me for more information or visit my website:

+27 82 491 1136
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