As a licensed professional counselor, Cyndi Doyle is an expert at putting aside her own emotions to support clients through their anxiety, stress and trauma.
But the weight of a pandemic takes a toll on mental health counselors, too. bit.ly/35TzRKR
But the weight of a pandemic takes a toll on mental health counselors, too. bit.ly/35TzRKR
2/ A @KFF poll found that nearly half of American adults said their mental health has been negatively impacted because of the virus. bit.ly/35TzRKR
3/ While Doyle typically works three days per week and sees between 24 and 27 clients, the coronavirus pandemic brought a surge of new demand, so she started working up to five days a week and seeing as many as 36 clients per week. bit.ly/35TzRKR
4/ Before long, listening to so much trauma started to weigh on her.
“Every day for two weeks, I would cry a little.” bit.ly/35TzRKR
“Every day for two weeks, I would cry a little.” bit.ly/35TzRKR
5/ Doyle said people whose past trauma includes feeling trapped or being in danger and people who are working through feelings of loneliness and isolation can be especially affected if stay-at-home mandates trigger old feelings. bit.ly/35TzRKR
6/ The pandemic also has rendered many people vulnerable financially — more than 1.5 million Texans filed for unemployment in six weeks. bit.ly/35TzRKR
7/ Doyle has offered reduced rates and pro bono services, but said she’s seen a notable decline in calls from people looking to start therapy. bit.ly/35TzRKR
8/8 “There’s an aspect where people aren’t sure about starting a therapeutic relationship over telehealth,” she said. “It takes courage to be vulnerable.” bit.ly/35TzRKR
