The Lee University Marriage and Family Therapy Center is now offering free phone appointments called “Caring Calls,” offered by graduate students in marriage and family therapy and school counseling. The purpose of these calls is to help anyone with self-care ideas and activities in response to the COVID-19 situation. This includes strategies to lower stress, worry, and anxiety.
According to MFT’s website, “during this crisis, it is natural for us all to feel more stressed and even overwhelmed at times. It is important for us to engage in self-care activities more than ever.”
Trouble associated with the stress of this pandemic can include an inability to stop watching the news and social media, a lack of motivation, stress eating, loneliness, or an intensified struggle with depression and anxiety. The Caring Calls are simply a scheduled phone appointment, free and confidential, with a trained staff member to discuss the situation in the life of any individual or family, said officials.
Caring Calls are available for adults, seniors, teens and children (five and older). Parents can sign up their children, or the children can sign up themselves. Parents are welcome to participate in the calls with their children. Children should get permission from their parents before they schedule a call. Phone calls are usually between 30 to 60 minutes.
This is a friendly, confidential, and encouraging phone call in a time of stress. There is no cost, catch, or obligation. At the end of the call, the Caring Caller will ask if the person wants a free follow-up call in a week to check in with how the ideas are working out, but that is optional. Donations are not being accepted for the Caring Calls program. It is a service to the community.
Those interested in finding out more about Caring Calls or signing up should go to http://leemft.org.