An Update from the Managing Director on the COVID-19 pandemic – Phase 2

Now entering Phase two of the re-opening of British Columbia we look to the guidance of our health authorities and professional associations in setting the parameters under which we can continue to act responsibly in an environment where Covid-19 is still a part of our everyday life.  As grief changes us forever, Covid-19 has as well. Many colleagues and businesses will not recover from the effects of the Phase 1- 10 week shut-down, or it will require a reworking of how we once received certain services and where we may have to live. During this 10-week period our Board and therapists have been here for all our existing and new clients in need of support.

Understanding the importance of the changes that we have had to make to deliver services in a virtual environment our Board has met regularly and our therapists have been available to help those that want to receive support in a less than ideal situation for them, that is, E-counselling formats.  We begin our relationships with clients knowing that they have already suffered a significant loss and we cannot think of any more impactful a loss then the effects COVID-19 are continuing to have on all of us and our daily lives.

Our agency has transitioned to a virtual or e-therapy counselling modes and we are open in this delivery format for one on one counselling and support groups. We will continue in this format of delivery of our services during Phase 2 and will gauge how we all fair with the new norms of behaving and offering and receiving services.

Although there has been a lifting of restrictions for one to one counselling our client population does not permit us to offer direct and in-person counselling in the near term. Grievers have lowered immune systems and placing them in higher risk environments can be serious and harming to both the griever and therapists. Our Agency is still working through the re-opening protocols in the office building where our offices are. Once they are known to us, in consultation with the Board and therapists we will undergo a risk assessment of whether we open to one on one counselling and in-office groups.  In the interim the continued need to support and deliver services in a virtual manner will help  keep everyone out of harms way, therapists, and clients alike and reduce any unintended impact we would have in the spread of COVID-19 . We continue to believe it is the right approach for our agency currently.

We encourage any one who needs support to use our confidential email (ltlc@shaw.ca)  and let us know how we can help; or call us on our confidential phone line at 1-604-873-5013; or, if you are on our webpage drop us a note using info@livingthroughloss.ca and we will respond.

On behalf of the therapists, volunteers, and Board of Living through Loss Counselling Society of BC,
Sincerely, Dr Cheryl L Bucar, RCC, Managing Director