Counselors make the call to help and guide students
May is Mental Health Awareness Month and every year the goal is to fight stigma, provide support, educate the public, and advocate for policies that support people with mental health issues and their families. In the face of COVID-19, this month La Luz Center once again is demonstrating its ability to quickly adapt, prepare and respond to vital needs including mental health services for the Sonoma Valley’s Latino families and vulnerable individuals.
As Shelter-In-Place restrictions were established, La Luz counselors and mental health services partners were especially concerned about disruption in services to the children for whom they provide mental health services.
These elementary school-age children, grades 1 – 5, typically benefit through in-person 1:1 therapy sessions located at El Verano Elementary School Family Resource Center. Referred by El Verano School, the students — and oftentimes their parents as well — benefit from the unique bicultural, bilingual therapy sessions offered at no cost to them.
Although nothing can replace the calming effect of in-person sessions, staff determined that telemedicine offered a way to stay connected with these young clients. So they took to the phones. Each week, counselors have individual, 45-minute phone calls with their students to continue the counseling and wellness check-ins. In this way, they can maintain their relationship with the students and help them to cope with the additional stress resulting from uncertainty caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
“We know that consistency is essential for successful result, so we were determined to stay in contact with the children,” said Sandy Sanchez, Director of Programs at La Luz.
Counselors found the transition to telecare service wasn’t difficult. Interestingly, although students could choose phone or video calls, most prefer to meet via phone.
And the remote program is working. Attendance is strong and some clients say they “like it even better”. Counselors are seeing positive results. In one particularly gratifying moment, Sanchez said, a child answered the first phone session by happily responding to counselor, “You didn’t forget me!”
As counselor Clay Burnett noted, “Working with children and families during this time has been a different experience as we are all in this pandemic together. Both the children and their families have been relieved to continue services and have expressed gratitude to be able to stay in touch. In such an uncertain and unprecedented time, being able to connect with the children over the phone and continue services has provided them a way to express feelings and discuss any stress or anxiety. They have been removed from teachers and friends that are a big piece of their support system, so it is an honor to get to help with that during this time.”
All involved are grateful that La Luz Center found a way to sustain services in the face of great challenge. Yuliana Camarena, Site Manager for the El Verano Family Resource Center said it best, “We look forward to when our children are back in the classroom and we can continue in-person help. Until then, we are grateful to the counselors, parents, and young students who have made the telecare option such a success.”
Mental Health is not the only counseling option available at La Luz. Many in Sonoma Valley have little or no access to quality affordable mental health services, provided in their native language. La Luz Center has created partnerships with mental health organizations to provide access to quality mental health resources: workshops, counseling and therapy. Group and individual sessions are provided through an in-house therapist and professional from the YWCA. Mental Health Services for children, which are funded by grants to La Luz, are provided through in-house therapist as well as partnerships with Burnett Therapeutic Services, Humanidad Therapy & Social Advocates for Youth (SAY).
During the COVID crisis, the La Luz family services team is providing bilingual information and referrals for a full range of support services, including access to mental health resources. Teresa Perez, who works with adults as well as children, said, “In this time of the epidemic, it has been possible to experience how therapies have been able to help clients to accept transitions easier without receiving negative impacts on their lives. As we know, every human being is always afraid of the unknown. Therapies have helped clients regulate their emotions and be able to explore their emotions more internally. Therapies by phone have become a light at the end of the tunnel so that they know that they are not alone. Since we know that it is not easy to be at home with two or three children.”
As a parent confirmed, “I feel more supported. Teresa is very punctual and it shows that she cares about us. It has helped me a lot in this difficult time.”
For more information about La Luz Center and how to donate to La Luz Center programs, please visit our website, www.laluzcenter.org or contact Sandy Sanchez at (707) 938-5131, ext. 106.
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—-May is Mental Health Awareness Month and every year the goal is to fight stigma
Perhaps this year it could be about fighting those taught or teaching that prejudice.
Harold A. Maio, retired mental health editor