Table of contents:
- Counseling a psychologist or psychiatrist during a pandemic
- 1,024,298
- 831,330
- 28,855
- 1. Counseling services for PDP / ODP / COVID-19 patients
- 2. Counseling services for routine or scheduled clients
- 3. Counseling services for new clients
- Free psychologist and psychiatric counseling during the pandemic
During the COVID-19 pandemic things changed. One of them is about meeting or having contact with other people which must be avoided to applyphysical distancing. Physical restrictions amid this pandemic also affect therapy and counseling sessions with psychologists and other mental health professionals.
There are several things that have changed, from the application of distance, meeting time, to changing counseling sessions regularly on line.
Counseling a psychologist or psychiatrist during a pandemic
The COVID-19 outbreak is putting psychological pressure on and causing many people to need professional help, so psychologists must find ways to continue to provide services safely.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, some mental health services around you may adjust to the condition. Some are closed for a while, some have changed their practice schedule, some have replaced it with counseling on line.
This is done in order to break the chain of transmission of COVID-19, both to service providers and to patients.
To be able to provide services safely, the Indonesian Psychological Association (HIMPSI) wrote a COVID-19 Emergency Response Service Guide.
"Psychological service providers are advised to use minimum forms of contact services as a top priority, both in assessment and intervention," wrote HIMPSI in its guidance sheet.
The guide to counseling with psychologists during the COVID-19 pandemic divides services into three categories. Namely for PDP / ODP / positive COVID-19 patients, routine or scheduled clients, and new clients. Here are the considerations.
COVID-19 Outbreak updates Country: IndonesiaData1,024,298
Confirmed831,330
Recovered28,855
DeathDistribution Map1. Counseling services for PDP / ODP / COVID-19 patients
Psychological services for patients affected by COVID-19 are carried out by avoiding direct contact. Psychologists as much as possible conduct counseling sessions using information technology, be it video call, phone, or text message.
"Every communication medium that is chosen has risks and consequences that must be considered by psychology service providers. Psychology service providers prepare a place free from sound disturbances or other disturbances so that client confidentiality is maintained, "explained HIMPSI.
If it has to be done face-to-face, service providers must use personal protective equipment (PPE) and carry out the hygiene standards imposed by the hospital. Do not forget to also prepare a special trash can to dispose of used patient tissues.
2. Counseling services for routine or scheduled clients
For routine or scheduled clients, therapy sessions should be continued as it is impossible to stop halfway through. Counseling services for routine or scheduled clients can still be done with several considerations during this pandemic.
If possible, the first option is to conduct remote counseling using a line on line as video call.Face-to-face psychological counseling during a pandemic is only carried out if the client does not allow for remote therapy.
Face-to-face is carried out with several conditions, such as regular scheduling so that there is no congestion in the waiting room, maintaining distance, and educating clients about preventing COVID-19 transmission.
3. Counseling services for new clients
Psychologists or mental health counseling service providers are advised not to offer services to new clients who are not related to the COVID-19 pandemic situation.
Therapeutic services other than cases related to the COVID-19 situation can be provided to new clients if they experience problems or psychological emergency situations that they cannot handle alone.
Free psychologist and psychiatric counseling during the pandemic
Psychologist and psychiatric counseling services in the majority of hospitals continued to operate normally during the pandemic. It's just that, the operating hours may adjust the conditions and priority of services for certain patients. Security procedures are also carried out in accordance with the rules applied by each hospital.
If you need psychologist or psychiatric counseling services during this pandemic, you can try services on line freebies provided by some organizations.
The Association of Indonesian Mental Medicine Specialists (PDSKJI) opens free psychosocial assistance for anyone affected by COVID-19. The registration procedure for this service can be seen on the Instagram account @pdskji_indonesia.
There are also counseling services on line free to be affected by COVID-19 provided by HIMPSI. The registration procedure can be seen on the HIMPSI official website.
In addition, there are several other organizations that provide psychologist and other mental health counseling services for free during this pandemic which can be searched on the internet and on the official websites of their respective organizations. Among them are anxiety attacks, suicide prevention, complaints of domestic violence during COVID-19, and child psychology.
