Written by Ramsey Khasho, PsyD
I’ve lost count of the number of days we’ve been sheltering-in-place. I can barely keep track of what month it is. All I know is that this feels LONG. And isolating. And seemingly never-ending.
As an adult, I have decades of experience to remind me that hard times do pass, and that things will, eventually, get better. I have a certain sense of control over keeping myself and my family safe. I can turn on the news when I’m in the right headspace, and turn it off when I’ve had my fill. I can express my emotions to my loved ones and put into words how I’m feeling. I can have hard days and hopeful days, take a deep breath and move forward, one foot in front of the other.
Children and teens, on the other hand, and don’t have the benefits of life experience and learning on their side. A recent TIME article highlighted the fact that while Coronavirus largely spares kids from serious physical illness, the effects on their mental health are more daunting. Feelings of anxiety, loneliness, fear, depression, loss and isolation are exacerbated by uncertainty around when school and social lives will resume. According to the New York Times, this is especially true for children with developmental differences. When you and I feel emotionally dysregulated, we can go for a walk, meditate, read or talk to a friend. For kids, these emotions often manifest as withdrawal, outbursts, defiance, sadness and/or disruptions to sleep and eating patterns.
Thankfully, there is hope. During shelter-in-place, teletherapy has provided families the care they need from the safety of home. CHC has been offering support for everything from anxiety and depression to dyslexia, ADHD and autism. Even our RISE Intensive Outpatient Program for high-risk teens has been fully operational via telehealth, and our online DBT Skills Groups have created a forum for middle and high schoolers to receive both peer and professional support. We’ve regularly hosted Parent Education webinars and Parent Support Groups, offering advice on Parenting in a Pandemic, Family Dynamics During Shelter-in-Place, and Responding to Your Child’s Challenging Behavior. In fact, we’ve been able to reach more families than ever, without the limitations of geographic boundaries.
Teletherapy offers families safe, secure and convenient access to care while giving clinicians a more comprehensive glimpse into the home and family lives of their clients.
Whether in-person or online, CHC is helping to lead the emotional recovery in the Bay Area and beyond with courage, connection and compassion. We’re in this together.
In solidarity,
Ramsey Khasho, PsyD
Special Note: At CHC, we are just like you. We feel, we worry and we care about our kids, just like you. We understand, we care and we are right alongside you. Just as we believe in the promise and potential of every child, we believe in the capacity and the innate strength of every parent.
With nearly 70 years of experience helping local kids, teens, young adults and families navigate some of life’s most difficult challenges, CHC stands ready to lead the emotional recovery ahead, with courage, connection and compassion. We are open and available for therapeutic services via telehealth. If you have concerns, just call: our expert clinical team is standing by to help you with the same level of care that you know and trust. We’re in this together.
