Originally published in the April 8 edition of The Community Press. Never miss an issue – become a subscriber. Click here.

Flagstaff Family and Community Services (FFCS) is offering counselling sessions via telephone during this time of social distancing.

Karen Bovencamp-Manning, FFCS Counsellor, continues to go to her office daily, and is connecting to residents who are open to the service via telephone instead of face-to-face sessions.

She says she’s open to the possibility of utilizing video conferencing, but adds, “Due to confidentiality and the Privacy Act, we would have do to some research to ensure that it is a safe and abiding method.”

So at the moment, it’s telephone only for the future.

Currently all it takes to talk to Bovencamp-Manning is to call FFCS and leave a message, she will then contact clients to book an appointment.

“Telephone counselling is not quite the same as in person, of course; however, due to the unprecedented times we must utilize diverse methods to ensure that access is still available.”

She says the majority of her existing clients are on board with the change, and say they are still finding they benefit from the interaction. “There are, of course, a few who dislike this method and prefer the face-to-face interaction.”

Bovencamp-Manning says COVID-19 is weighing heavily on everyone’s mind. “This is a global pandemic and affects everyone’s life in some aspect.

“It can induce anxiety and fear as it is unknown, and can foster feelings of fear and paranoia.”

She says it can often leave people with a feeling of uncertainty and can highlight the reality of our own mortality, and that of those we love.

“The tools used to fight this pandemic such as self isolating, social distancing, and self quarantine are imperative, but can also induce feelings of loneliness and restlessness, while reinforcing feelings of anxiety and fear.

“This is all very normal. All serve a purpose to keep us alive and well. The trick is to ensure that these overwhelming feelings do not take over. Easier said than done, absolutely.”

So what helps? She says that recognizing that feelings of anxiety, fear, loneliness are there for a reason.

“What is it trying to tell you? Its purpose is to keep you safe and healthy. Acknowledge the message, and remember that this time in our world and our lives is very different from our normal. This can be extremely difficult; talk to a friend, FaceTime, write it down, or just simply sit with that fact. “Acknowledgement goes a lot further than pushing it away.”

Bovencamp-Manning says we aren’t meant to be completely free of anxiety, that it serves a very important purpose in our lives.

“The trick is to ensure that it does not overtake and control every aspect. There is no normal that exists for anyone without some kind of anxiety, it’s just not how we are built.”

She says we should each give ourselves some grace, and allow some breathing room in the expectations of what life/work/play/relationships “should” look like.

“Remember that these are unprecedented and extraordinary times, as such, life as we know it will look different for a bit. That is okay. Give yourself and those around you permission to be human.”