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By Elizabeth Lenart | Contributor
The Counseling Place, a provider of affordable professional counseling and educational services on a sliding scale for individuals of all ages and income levels in North Texas, seeks the community’s support during “North Texas Giving Tuesday Now,” which runs until midnight on May 5. The COVID-19 pandemic has intensified issues such as anxiety, depression, and emotional exhaustion, complicating existing mental health challenges and introducing new ones, thereby significantly increasing the demand for mental health services both now and in the future.
“The pandemic has altered life as we know it, and based on what our clinicians have observed, we are preparing for what may come next,” stated Deborah Dobbs, who has been with The Counseling Place for over 23 years and has served as executive director for the past decade.
In a notable increase from February to March, referrals for suicides and assaults to The Counseling Place tripled, while instances of domestic violence surged by 30 percent.
“Our current circumstances, including confinement and limited mobility with no clear end in sight, challenge the coping abilities of nearly everyone,” Dobbs remarked. “Individuals recovering from trauma may see their progress hindered by these conditions. Consider Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs—people are primarily focused on fulfilling their basic needs. Healing strategies, such as grounding and mindfulness, take precedence over ensuring sufficient food and stable housing, resulting in substantial setbacks in their recovery.”
Dobbs highlighted the concerning trend of substance use: “Many individuals are turning to alcohol and drugs, which can lead to increased tempers and detrimental impacts on relationships. Volatile relationships can quickly escalate into violence, making domestic violence victims a major concern for us. During the pandemic, we’ve provided services via phone or video, but many domestic violence victims do not have access to these options. We fear for their safety and are preparing for an increase in service demand post-COVID.”
Dobbs emphasized the considerable psychosocial effects of COVID-19: “The state of our mental health greatly influences our responses and adaptability.”
Since the outbreak, there has been a rise in disputes among divorced parents concerning child custody arrangements. Many teenagers missing important milestones like graduations and proms report heightened anxiety and a lack of coping skills, with some even resorting to self-harm.
Concerns for Healthcare Providers and First Responders
The mental health of healthcare providers and first responders working in extremely challenging conditions is particularly concerning. “Helping the helpers” has become a key focus at The Counseling Place, which offers specialized counseling services for first responders. This initiative gained momentum following the 2019 tornadoes in the Dallas area, leading to the establishment of self-care groups for frontline staff in nonprofit organizations.
“Following the tornadoes, Cindy Shafer, an innovative leader and executive director of The Network of Community Ministries, approached us for support for their frontline staff, and we subsequently received a grant from the Communities Foundation to enhance these services for other nonprofits,” Dobbs noted.
New Support Initiatives for Frontline Workers
In light of COVID-19, The Counseling Place introduced a “check-in” service aimed at supporting nonprofit workers as well as law enforcement officers, 911 dispatchers, and medical staff. This service allows individuals to text and schedule a phone check-in to discuss their well-being, providing them a moment to decompress before returning home. The service is free and confidential.
“It’s crucial to aid the helpers, and additional funding allows us to broaden this initiative. We must continually devise innovative approaches to assist those impacted by this pandemic,” Dobbs stressed.
In 2019, The Counseling Place served 555 new clients with individual and family counseling, reached 226 children and teens through psychoeducation groups, and provided assistance to over 1,600 victims across the metroplex. The demand for services continues to outstrip the agency’s capacity to meet it.
“It is well-known that the United States faces a severe shortage of affordable mental health services, a situation that predates the pandemic,” Dobbs remarked. “It’s profoundly disheartening to have to turn away individuals who have summoned the courage to seek help amidst a prevailing stigma surrounding mental health.”
According to Mental Health America’s 2020 State of Mental Health Report, which evaluated all 50 states and the District of Columbia based on various mental health metrics, over 45 million Americans—nearly 20%—are grappling with a mental health issue. Additionally, over 10.3 million adults report serious thoughts of suicide, marking an increase of almost 450,000 from the previous year, while 57% of individuals with mental illnesses do not receive any treatment.
A recent study conducted by Qualtrics highlights the escalation of the global mental health crisis following COVID-19. The findings reveal that 67% of participants report elevated stress levels, 57% experience increased anxiety, 54% feel more emotionally drained, 53% experience day-to-day sadness, 50% report heightened irritability, and 42% indicate a decline in their overall mental health.
Anticipating Future Mental Health Needs
“We anticipate a long and challenging path ahead as we brace for a surge in clients dealing with trauma and grief,” Dobbs added. “Cases of the blues may transition into depression, an increasing number of individuals will need to navigate grief due to suicide, and even the natural process of mourning expected deaths is compounded by the restrictions on traditional practices. Through ‘North Texas Giving Tuesday Now,’ we aspire to highlight this devastating hidden crisis that will have lasting impacts long after the pandemic has subsided.”
Supporting The Counseling Place
The Counseling Place is seeking your support at https://www.northtexasgivingday.org/the-counseling-place through May 5 at midnight.
Additional Information
To learn more, visit https://counselingplace.org/
The Counseling Place (The CP), founded in 1979 as the first nonprofit mental health organization in Richardson, Texas, is committed to enhancing and restoring emotional well-being for individuals of all ages and financial backgrounds in the Dallas area. The CP offers professional and affordable (or free) counseling services to individuals, families, and couples requiring outpatient mental health care; psychoeducational community courses; and a victims’ assistance program through formal partnerships with the Richardson and Sachse Police Departments and other areas for crime victim referrals. The CP also collaborates with other nonprofit organizations to deliver mental health services to their clients, including families affected by autism. For assistance, call 469-283-0340 or visit https://counselingplace.org/
Youth Programs Director Lorjon Ali leads a Project Positive Group for teens and parents. Project Positive is The Counseling Place’s social emotional learning group course designed to help teens enhance their emotional intelligence, foster healthy coping skills, and establish and invest in positive relationships. COVID-19 has profoundly impacted teens, prompting Lorjon to conduct the course via video, one-on-one with teens, regardless of a parent’s financial situation. This image was captured prior to the COVID-19 outbreak.
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy (EMDR) is a therapeutic approach that expedites trauma healing with minimal distress, involving bilateral brain stimulation. All clinicians at The Counseling Place are trained in this method, an uncommon offering for nonprofit organizations. More information can be found at Emdr.com.
Therapy dog in training, Watson.
