By Reagan Scott
(SNR) - The holiday season can be a time of great joy when friends and loved ones come together to celebrate the season, but studies have found that the holidays can also bring stress, feelings of loneliness and anxiety.
When these feelings arise, seeking help from a medical professional can help combat what have been dubbed, the “holiday blues.”
The Immaculate Heart of Mary Counseling Center (IHMCC), a ministry of Catholic Social Services of Southern Nebraska seeks to provide the highest standard of psychological services in an environment that respects the psychological and spiritual needs of its clientele. In order to do this more effectively, IHMCC is utilizing Telehealth, counseling via an electronic platform for those who live 30 miles or more outside Lincoln.
Using Telehealth, those in need of counseling can conduct online sessions with an IHMCC therapist from the comfort and convenience of their own home. All that’s needed is a computer, tablet or phone, a good internet connection, and webcam capability.
Sessions are run in the same way they would be in person, typically lasting around 45 minutes, and they can be billed through one’s health insurance if doctor-prescribed. The platform is all web-based, so it doesn’t require downloading, is HIPAA compliant and maintains confidentiality of patient information.
Dr. Courtney Miller, the clinical director for IHMCC said, “We only have counselors in our Lincoln office, and this platform allows us to ensure we can still offer these services to those out in the western part of Nebraska.
“Our primary service area is southern Nebraska,” she continued, “but we can provide services to those in the Omaha Archdiocese and Grand Island Diocese.”
Due to state regulations, a patient must reside in the state of Nebraska to receive counseling from IHMCC counselors.
IHMCC began testing the Telehealth platform in March 2019 and had its first active session May 2. Since that initial session, IHMCC has had a total of 32 Telehealth sessions.
Dr. Jeffery Vance, a post-doctoral fellow provisionally licensed psychologist with IHMCC who has used Telehealth most frequently, said that Telehealth has given him the ability to help people for whom a weekly trip to their offices just isn’t realistic.
“When someone lives quite a distance from the office,” he said, “they may spend more than twice their appointment time traveling. This may require taking half a day off work. While this may be manageable for two trips to the dentist a year, it can be very disruptive for weekly sessions. Also, during times of inclement weather, those in more rural areas may face increased danger and longer delays in traveling.”
Given the availability of this service and the upcoming holidays, Dr. Miller wants people to know that conducting counseling sessions with IHMCC therapists via Theranest, the platform used for Telehealth, could be an option for them.
“We see a lot of increased stress because there are a lot of factors that go into preparing for holidays. We see an increase in anxiety or depression as a result of these stressors,” Dr. Miller said.
Dr. Miller also sees those who may have a compulsion to create the perfect holiday, or anxiety related to making sure the holiday is perfect.
Another common feeling is loneliness, whether someone has moved somewhere that prevents them from traveling to be with family or they don’t have any family with which to celebrate.
Dr. Miller said they are exploring the possibility of using Theranest for group therapy sessions as well, since the platform supports five users in addition to the counselor.
Theranest can be easily accessed from the client portal button in the top right of IHMCC’s new website, immaculateheartcounseling.org.
Launched on the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Nov. 21, the website allows easier access to information about the counseling center, its history, and services.
“We had the desire to make a website that clients could easily access and navigate. This allows us to be able to get our service information out to the Diocese of Lincoln in a way that’s more accessible to them,” Dr. Miller said.
Anyone struggling this holiday season should consult with their medical professional to see if counseling could help. The Immaculate Heart of Mary Counseling Center is available to help.
Author: Theranest, first-hand
By Reagan Scott
(SNR) - In speaking with Dr. Miller to get more information for this article, she suggested that I try out the Theranest platform. I would get a first-hand look at how it worked, and interview with her face to face when I was on campus between classes. We agreed upon a date and time and ended our initial interview.
Not long after that, I received an email from the Immaculate Heart of Mary Counseling Center. I followed the link it provided, created a username and password, and had access to the site. It took less than two minutes to set up.
On the site I could see my upcoming appointment listed, and the tab with billing and insurance information and had access to all of the forms I would need to fill out if I were participating in a counseling session. I was able to get through them in less than five minutes.
When it came time to speak with Dr. Miller, I logged on a few minutes early, navigated to the appointments tab and clicked the “start session” button. The system made sure that my internet connection was good and that my webcam was working while I waited for Dr. Miller to log on.
At 4:00, Dr. Miller started the session and I was able to see and hear her clearly. She demonstrated some of the features of the system, including screen-sharing capability. She was able to show me her computer screen where she had pulled up the new IMHCC website and could pull up other resources to share with patients as needed.
I was so impressed with how easy the system was to use. I didn’t need to take the time to download anything to my computer, the system was incredibly easy to navigate, and it was nice to be able to speak with Dr. Miller face to face from the convenience of a classroom.
I would recommend that someone interested in Telehealth try a session on this platform.
FAQs from Dr. Miller:
What are some ways I can reduce feeling overwhelmed during the holidays?
It is very important to remember to take care of you even when it seems like there is so much to do and not enough time to do it. By taking care of yourself, you can actually take better care of others. Self-care can look differently for each of us but going back to the basics of healthy eating, good sleep hygiene, physical exercise, and time for self is central. Slow down, engage your five senses, and be in the moment. Be realistic in your expectations and prioritize your goals and tasks, knowing that it is okay to let some go.
What are some signs of anxiety and/or depression?
Again, symptoms of anxiety or depression may vary for each of us. An important question to ask is whether you are noticing changes that significantly impact you in your daily activities. Some examples may include difficulty concentrating, loss of pleasure or interest in previously enjoyed activities, increased agitation, frequent crying or feelings of sadness, changes in appetite or sleep patterns, feelings of worthlessness, self-criticalness, state of hyperarousal, inability to relax, excessive worry or rumination.
What can a counselor do for me?
A counselor can provide you a safe and confidential place to discuss stressors, develop healthy coping strategies, and help restore balance in your life. A counselor can support you in managing day-to-day demands or adjusting to a recent life change, as well as healing from past wounds or traumatic events that may be related to current symptoms.
What makes the IHMCC unique?
At the IHMCC, a faith-integrated approach to understanding and responding to psychological needs guides our practice. We recognize and uphold the human dignity in all our clients and strive to be an instrument of hope and healing to all we serve. #HopeintheGoodLife
How do I begin?
Contact us at 402.489.1834 or visit our website at www.immaculatehearcounseling.org to learn more.
