{"id":17034,"date":"2020-03-30T14:42:11","date_gmt":"2020-03-30T14:42:11","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.uwb.edu\/?p=17034"},"modified":"2023-06-08T18:27:04","modified_gmt":"2023-06-08T18:27:04","slug":"covid-mental-health","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.uwb.edu\/news\/2020\/03\/30\/covid-mental-health","title":{"rendered":"Mental health counseling available for students"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

After 10 years as a mental health counselor for students, Ann Ellis likes to say, \u201cIn college counseling, there is no regular day. You never know what\u2019s going to come up. We deal with emergencies and crises as they pop up. You have to be flexible in this job.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That attitude is helping Ellis and three other therapists at the University of Washington Bothell\u2019s Counseling Center<\/a> adapt to the restricted operations forced by the coronavirus pandemic<\/a>. Just like teaching, counseling has moved to a remote environment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ellis and colleagues including Lillian Chen, a psychologist, are working from home and providing short-term counseling by phone. Meanwhile, the center led by Director Rosemary Simmons, a psychologist, is carefully thinking through the process for longer phone and video sessions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They will follow the best practices for informed consent, confidentiality and compliance with the federal health information law known as HIPAA.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Modifying operations<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Ann
Ann Ellis<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Normally, each counselor at the Counseling Center in Founders Hall (UW1-080) met with about five students a day, helping them deal with issues such as anxiety, depression, academic pressures and relationship or family difficulties. Sometimes it could also be a \u201ccrisis walk-in” student who had experienced sexual assault or another trauma.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At the beginning of the 2020 winter quarter, no one predicted the way the quarter would end. After COVID-19 became a pandemic, fear of the coronavirus spread, and daily lives were disordered. Many students are now dealing with new concerns about their health, finances, changes in their day-to-day routines, social isolation and sometimes xenophobia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now, students can ask to speak with a counselor by calling 425-352-3183 to schedule a phone appointment or speak with a counselor during their call-in hours 1-3 p.m. Monday-Friday. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Reaching out<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Lillian
Lillian Chen<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The counselors know what students are going through. \u201cFor a lot of people, there are a lot of life routines that are disrupted,\u201d Chen said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some students, said Ellis, \u201care struggling with feeling isolated, bored and really alone, having to stay home.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The counselors have a wealth of knowledge and experience to share with students and help them navigate the current situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI encourage them to get up, get dressed, get ready like you normally would. It gives you a greater sense of purpose,\u201d Ellis said. \u201cRemember, this will pass. It\u2019s only temporary.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chen advises taking a break from the news and focusing on things that are within your control.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cCreate news- and information-free times to disconnect from the crisis and recharge,\u201d Chen said. \u201cOne way to shift that anxious, panicky mood is to think about gratitude. Even though the current situation is not optimistic, that doesn\u2019t mean we don\u2019t have things to be grateful for.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

News you can use<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Meanwhile, as counselors, Ellis and Chen have plenty of other suggestions for adapting to the changed circumstances.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Working from home:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 Minimize distractions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 Set a daily routine and have a regular schedule.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 Set daily goals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Psychological adjustment:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 See the current challenge as an opportunity to adapt, learn new things, be flexible and creative.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 Use this opportunity to slow down, be in the present moment and be more mindful in your daily living.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 Do the things you always wanted to do but were too busy, such as watching movies or reading books.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Self-Care:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 Focus on things that are within your control.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 Make sure you sleep well, eat well and schedule physical activities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 Stay connected with friends through text, social media or phone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Stress management:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 Relax your body, take deep breaths, stretch, meditate or pray.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 Pace yourself between stressful activities, and do something fun after a hard task.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 Keep a journal to write down things you are grateful for or that are going well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Learn more:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n