Written by Amanda, Radiant Living Therapist & Owner
Minnesotans have stay at home orders until at least May 4th and will likely be social distancing for a while. We can’t see our family and friends like we want to, some of us might be without jobs and worrying how we are going to pay our bills, and some of us may even lose loved ones to this awful virus.
Mental Health Matters
Mental health is certainly going to be the next pandemic as we all try to deal with the fall out of the coronavirus. Online therapy can be one of your few constants during this time of constant change and upheaval. Whether you are right in Plymouth with us, across town in Minneapolis or St Paul or in Mankato, Brainerd or ANYWHERE in Minnesota we want to help. Did you know that Minnesotans are actually flattening the curve better than other states? Minnesotans are a special group of people. As Minnesota therapists, we are honored to walk beside you during this difficult time.
There are many problems and concerns that are unique to the time of the COVID-19 crisis. Hopefully, in due time, we will all look back on this with pride. We can be proud of our determination, courage, and resilience. For now, we are in a crisis in a variety of different ways.
Here are some common coronavirus concerns that our therapists are specially trained to treat:
“I’ve got COVID 19 on the brain ALL the time.”
It’s hard not to think about this global crisis. There are myriad things to be worried about. We suggest taking breaks from social and other forms of media to take a break from the constant anxiety and worry. Spend time with your loved ones in the home and try to cherish this time. We highly suggest developing an intentional time of deep breathing or meditation practice during this time. Deep breathing can calm our minds and our bodies. We suggest downloading a meditation app like Calm, Headspace, or Insight Timer. These all have guided meditations for you to press play and relax into meditation.
“Quarantining with my partner is NOT going well.”
Annoyed with your partner? Likely it’s not them, it’s the quarantining. That much time with ANYONE can get exhausting and overwhelming. Let’s just go ahead and blame this on COVID. We recommend thinking of your relationship with your partner right now as the greatest team ever, working every day to keep your relationship and family strong during this crisis. If you can manage not to completely hate each other when this is all over, you can consider yourself a success. Some couples may find online couples therapy helpful during this time to discuss things like daily routine, expectations, time management, co-parenting, etc.
“My teen is bummed having to miss school, graduation, friends, sports, etc and I’m not sure what to do to help.”
Our teens are going through a difficult time. They are missing out on their senior year of high school, their prom, state tournaments, the spring play, and the stability of school and activities. Our teens are used to seeing their friends or boyfriend/girlfriend every day and not can’t see them at all. They even *gasp* miss the consistency of school (even if they won’t admit it).
Teens need some consistency now more than ever. They need fun projects. They need time to chill and binge Netflix. And they need parents to validate how much this sucks for them. They also may need online teen counseling to help them figure out how to cope with depression, anxiety, loneliness, and grief. Teens in therapy can meet online from the comfort of their room with an experienced teen therapist. During an online counseling session, they can discuss everything that is bumming them out during this time with a supportive teen therapist and figure out some ways to cope.
“We were going to start fertility treatments and COVID has put our dreams of a family to halt.”
You’ve been hoping and dreaming to start a family and things have already been hard enough. Then COVID-19 happens and suddenly it’s harder than ever. You likely have a team of people you have been consulting with and receiving care from for your infertility. Now, they might be closed or have limited access to appointments. These could include acupuncture, massages chiropractic clinics, fertility clinics, Ob/GYN clinics, etc. You may have had in vitro fertilization or Intrauterine insemination (IUI) scheduled and now is postponed due to the COVID crisis. People may not be recognizing the grief and loss you already go through on a daily basis. And, that has now increased due to your work toward a family coming to a halt.
We see you. We see your grief. Your loss. We see your dreams. We’d be honored to support you.
Whatever you are feeling or struggling with right now know that it is valid. Everyone is going to have a different, yet the ubiquitous experience of this crisis. Honor that experience every day. Tell yourself “I am allowed to feel what I need to feel during this time”. If the anxiety or stress gets to be too much, please reach out to a friend, family member, or possibly a therapist.
Thinking About Online Therapy in Minnesota During COVID?
We would love to help you through this unprecedented global trauma. If you’ve read all the way to here, you probably already know that we offer online counseling in Minnesota, no matter where you are in the state. We can provide high-quality telehealth services for you and your family! To get started, simply:
- Schedule a free, 30-minute consultation to talk about online therapy
- Meet with a skilled and licensed online therapist
- Begin to feel more confident and in control during this coronavirus crisis from the safety of your home
Other Counseling Services at Radiant Living Therapy
Our problems have many layers. We know these issues are complex so, at our Plymouth, MN counseling office, our professional therapists offer a variety of options for supporting your mental health needs. Our counseling services include individual counseling for anxiety or depression therapy, counseling for teens, marriage counseling and couples therapy, EMDR for trauma therapy, counseling for men, therapy for infertility and more. Most of these services can also be offered online. Let us help you live your best life, starting with online therapy.
If you are a helping professional looking for help, or a therapist needing supervision or consultation services, we can help you, too. No matter the need, our therapists look forward to connecting with you!
Read more from the Radiant blog:
- Unload The Mental Load: Tips from a Twin Cities Therapist
- The Way You See Yourself Matters: Body Image and Sexual Functioning
- Attached at the Hip: How Attachment Styles Affect Our Adult Relationships
- New Year New Us: Relationship Resolutions
- Setting Boundaries: The Holiday Edition
- A Beginner’s Guide to Sex Toys
