31/05/2020
A Warm Welcome to you all to Tokyo Counseling Services Online Counseling and Psychotherapy Emotional and Psychological Support ~ Q & A with regards to the Ongoing Mental Health Stress and Pressures and How to Maintain Mental Wellness in Lockdown
A warm welcome to you one an all to Tokyo Counseling Services. My name is Andrew Grimes and I am the Director of ’Team TCS” here in Shimokitazawa, Tokyo.
I think it may be helpful to pose myself questions that represent the essence of concerned inquiries we have been getting since the onset of the coronavirus here in Tokyo and Japan on the 186h of January, 2020. These questions are:
Have we seen an uptick in inquiries or new patients since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic?
What are the biggest issues we have seen since Covid-19 began to force work from home,
salary and hour cuts, and other impacts on work life?
What tips do we have for reducing this stress?
Are there any particular pitfalls that one must watch out for during this time and how can these be avoided?
How important are work–life boundaries and how can we establish and maintain these when always at home?
What is my biggest concern regarding mental health and Covid-19?
How can the crisis be an opportunity for a healthier life post-pandemic?
My answers are:
There has been both an increase in both new inquires and new clients (in the US some psychotherapists use the word "patients" however all JSCCP Certified Clinical Psychologists nationwide (35005 as of October 2019) and for us all at 'Team TCS" provide clients with emotional and psychological support ) and so TCS's full team of 27 counselors and psychotherapists have been providing counseling and psychotherapy for individuals, couples and families ~ now online using Skype and Zoom, and since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, However we still have a very good capacity to welcome new clients who can reach us with their initial inquiries / requests for appointments at info@tokyocounseling.com
Some of the biggest problems that people have reached out to us for professional support since Covid-19 began to force work from home, salary and hour cuts, and other impacts on work life include an increase in stress management, isolation and loneliness, depression, anxiety disorders. Also there is an increase in one or both adults needing help and support due to sudden, and in some couples current lockdown situations first instances of domestic violence.
Couples counseling and marriage counseling clients seeking professional support from our specialist counselors and psychotherapists have also seen quite an increase as one or sometimes both partners working for companies online at home in lockdown.
As much as you can do not use weekends to do work. Naturally, you may be keeping in touch with your loved ones in your hometown and your home countries. Try your best to reassure them that you are taking wise and careful safety precautions. Also if you are living here with your family keep taking an interest in what your children are doing to keep themselves happy and listen and learn from your teenage children about is important to them and also what is worrying them during this very difficult ~ yet infinite ~ time, As much as possible join them and play with them more than your previous business schedules allowed prior to this current Covid !9. Especially during the weekends, take this chance over meals or at any other times you are all together to talk about your parents and grandparents to ensure that they have a good understanding of your family's history and heritage, which in time they will pass on to their children and grandchildren,
If you are single and living alone stay in touch with your friends and reach out to your friends from your past times and discover you have many happy memories and have had a lot of fun times and received a lot of love over the years.
Look forward to after the end of this difficult and even frightening time and decide which countries you will visit first and / or things you want to do when this unforeseeable crisis is finally over. At the same time also come to the realisation that, as John Lennon wrote and sang, "Life is what happens when you are making other plans" and treasure all you have in the here and now and express your feelings to all you love and care about here and worldwide.
Under any and all circumstances DO NOT watch or listen to constant news/podcasts about Covid 19 all day long, To put your mind at rest take up to thirty minutes to check on the current situation of your folks and friends back home before you phone or video call with them. Here in the evenings you can keep up with daily current developments by watching NHK news in English from 7.00 p.m. Other than those times keep your minds and hearts on things that are more important to you and will help you relax
Any evening during the week decide what time you will stop looking at your PC, laptop and smartphones! Use this valuable time after that to enjoy your favorite authors and read other books about your hobbies and interests. Remember your passions and explore them more than before. Listen to your favourite inspiring music and watch your favourite comedy programs from your past and ones that you want to keep up with now and that maybe your family back home are also watching. The bottom line is to avoid looking at your PC, laptop and smartphones screen up to at least two hours before you want and need to sleep. If you don't your brain will be overstimulated and make it difficult for you to get to sleep.
My biggest concern regarding mental health and Covid-19 is that, as tragic and devastating are the impacts on families who lose a loved one who goes ahead due to Covid 19, the actual fear of losing elderly loved ones back in their home towns or home countries and so being unable to attend their funerals combined with the fear of contracting Covid-19 may lead to many people here in Japan and worldwide to succumb to anxiety disorders, such as to frequent an overwhelming panic attacks, social phobia and even OCD as well as deep depression and suicidal ideation. The number of people who could fall victim to Covid-19 this way could potentially lead to even greater numbers than the actual numbers of people who die from contracting the virus itself. This is why I feel that here in Tokyo and Japan it is vital for good and professionally well experienced counseling teams to be available now online and well connected with English speaking nationally licensed psychiatric clinics to prevent people who fall into either clinical or major depression from reaching a point of suicidal ideation.
This crisis, however dark a cloud it may be casting over the minds and hearts among some of us, can definitely provide many silver lining opportunities for a healthier life even now and also post-pandemic. Families living close together can step back and reevaluate what are the priorities for them to have a happier and more close loving time together. Also it is an opportunity for many to realize that their concept of being 'social drinkers' is now being seriously challenged by not attending social functions or parties and keeping safe from Covid-19 at home and will lead many to their understanding that they are not 'heavy drinkers' but have had serious problems and could be alcoholics in need of support and treatment. Furthermore I think it is giving many people a great opportunity to consider and eat more healthy and sustainable diets.
Keep safe and be well.
With best and warm regards to you all, for all your families, friends and the communities you live within.
Keep well everyone and stay safe,
Andrew
Andrew Grimes CP, JCP,
M.Sc.of Psy. (SFU, Vienna)
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Founder and Director:
Tokyo Counseling Services:
http://tokyocounseling.com/english/
http://tokyocounseling.com/jp/
Email ~ info@tokyocounseling.com
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東京カウンセリングサービスは、心理カウンセラーや臨床理士他メンタルヘルスの専門家がカウンセリングサービスを提供。ストレスや不安、パニック、うつ等に個人、女性、家族カウンセリング。英語も対応。
