Behavorial Health Perspective continued
Normally our clients meet once a week with their individual therapist for 90 minutes. Moving those sessions online was a struggle in itself for our clients – determining whether they had the right technology and the cognitive ability to utilize telehealth. Fortunately, the introductory calls that took place prior to each session took a lot of pressure off the clinical staff – we didn’t have to teach. I thought we adapted really well. There was virtually no delay in services, we just had to pivot and adapt. I was one of the first to roll out telehealth using DOXY – I used it almost immediately. It was clunky at first and a bit frustrating, but I was adamant about getting back to work. After about a month I switched to ZOOM. We’ve noticed that the group member dynamics are not the same. Sharing becomes more difficult. Attendance is good, people are participating via ZOOM, but as far as the interaction goes, it is diminished. Doing psychotherapy on ZOOM presents a whole list of challenges. It is more difficult to get a read on someone’s emotional state of mind. Sometimes there’s a little delay, sometimes you can’t hear people, and some don’t like to be on camera. It can be clunky, and
it can be trying. When you can’t read facial expressions, it makes it tough for both client and therapist. That is also true of in-person sessions when we are wearing masks. Working from presents its own set of challenges. As psychotherapists we deal with a lot of heavy stuff all day. To do so in your home feels a lot different than in the workplace. I’ve had to create some boundaries, and reorganize things in my mind. Not being able to see co-workers also contributes to daily stress. This is not the time to rally against change. With no end in sight, I’m now working on putting my DBT (Dialectical Behavior Therapy) online. Everything will be uploaded into an app. Clients will be able to access the manual, submit homework and manage their diary cards, all through the app. Everyone has had to be creative, and some real innovation has happened. You just do what you have to to make things work.
CATHY MCMULLIN Clinician, Adult Services, Community Rehabilitation and Treatment Program
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Perspective:
Developmental Disabilities Services Overnight, we went from being very person-centered to having to do everything from a distance. We – along with the people we support – were definitely not used to that. Because we are a long-term service provider we like to spend time with folks and get to know them. The pandemic has made that really difficult. The directive to stop all non-essential supports brought a level of panic – how do you determine what is essential, and more importantly, how do you keep people safe? It ultimately came down to this -- If losing services put someone’s health and safety at risk those services were deemed essential. There has definitely been innovation around telecommuting and finding new ways to interact with people remotely. We’ve had
specific brainstorming groups to identify best practices and look for sustainability, as this is likely to be our future. This is a field that is rooted in personal connection. We’re used to being around people -- walking down the hall and saying hi to co-workers. Right now, our whole world is pretty disconnected. As we navigate through this and adjust to doing everything from a distance, increasing our communication and compassion with each other is going to be essential.
DUSTIN REDLEIN Director, Developmental Disabilities, Services Systems
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2020 ANNUAL REPORT
Community Care Network | rmhsccn.org
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