Lock-down Support Sessions
When your usual coping strategies have been lost due to lock-down restrictions
These are no longer available.
Book your free 30 minute support session
The second lock-down is upon us. Just as we started to reconnect with friends and family, we also started to lean back into the coping strategies that we’ve generally had access to, those that help us feel OK, grounded, healthy and well.
Lock-down in many different areas of life, means our resources are off limits again - not everyone is feeling OK about this.
During the second lock-down, I will be holding free 30 minute appointments via video call to anyone who needs it. Spaces are limited as my practice is full; put your fear to one side and if you believe you would benefit from speaking to someone about how you’re feeling, how you’re thinking and how you’re coping - book a free 30 minute support session with me.
There’s no magic wand in therapy, it’s hard graft - so there’s definitely no magic wand in the support sessions I am offering, but I hope you still feel some benefit. I hope it can help you regain some clarity, some calm and some ideas that will keep you going.
Struggling during lock-down is not a reflection of our character or weaknesses. The fact is, our struggles do not define us, often it means we are under-resourced. Accessing someone else’s know-how, experiences and understanding can be all we need to feel the pressure lift.
About Alex.
Hello, I’m Alex Carling, a psychotherapist in private practice since 2008. I work in many areas of mental health, with specific interest in trauma, attachment and parenting.
What is a Lockdown Support Session?
During the second lockdown (here in the UK), I will be using my cancellations to offer anyone who is struggling with the stress that COVID is bringing to daily life. Sometimes, small tweaks in the way we see things and how we respond, can have a positive impact on our well-being.
During the lockdown support sessions, we will speak using Zoom video conferencing (with or without the video - that can be your choice) for 30 minutes. You can bring whatever is on your mind, you can use the space to be seen/heard/validated, you can speak, I can listen and you can ask for my thoughts too if you would like.
The sessions aim to be accessible, they are done online for our safety and ease. Please judge the best place to hold your appointment - children, family members and pets are welcome so long as you believe there will be no emotional harm caused by what you choose to speak about.
All attendees with be required to enter some personal information. Whilst these are not therapy or counselling sessions, I am still practising as a psychotherapist and have a duty of care. The information I request is to best support me to keep you safe.
What isn’t a Lockdown Support Session?
Sessions are not suitable for individuals in crisis. If you are self-harming or actively suicidal - please call your GP and/or 999.
These support sessions are not therapy or counselling and they do not mean we enter into a therapy agreement that extends beyond the 30 minute session.
I will not keep personal details of you, your family or your GP beyond our appointment (records of private clients are kept for 6 years). I will offer everyone who attends, a copy of my Mental Health Resource document which lists both regional and national support help-lines. You can see my privacy policy here.
Our Agreement.
When you make an appointment, you will be agreeing to work with me in the context of support and not therapy or counselling. The session will be informal but there are a few requirements in order to keep us safe.
Please refrain from using alcohol and non-prescribed drugs before or during our appointment.
Please practice mutual consideration and respect. Any behaviours from you, that do not consider and respect myself will result in the call being terminated and no further appointments being available to you.
Confidentiality: In adherence with the BACP's ethical code, I am obliged to break confidentiality if you were to disclose involvement in or knowledge of an act of terrorism, money laundering and drugs trafficking. In addition I have an organisational policy to report instances of harm to self or to others and I do have a legal obligation to report harm or abuse to a minor or vulnerable adult. By continuing into a lockdown support session, you give me consent to use your signing up details should I need to inform any external agency.
Cancellations.
Please try to give as much notice as you can for cancellations. This will help me to manage my calendar and offer unattended sessions to others.
Considerations for holding a support session from your home.
Internet connection: The call quality on Zoom is usually very good. It can be improved by you using an Ethernet connection as opposed to Wi-Fi, however, Wi-Fi or 3G/4G will usually work well too. I recommend closing all other browser windows and programmes running in the background to make the call quality as good as possible.
Using Zoom: If you are not familiar with Zoom, I recommend you download the app and take some time to have a look at it. I will send you a link to join the call, which will take you straight to my personal Zoom meeting room. You can choose to have your camera on or off. From my experience, if you choose to use the video element, it is really useful if you can have your webcam/camera/phone on a static surface to reduce movement; this helps me focus and concentrate much better.
Trouble shooting: In the event that it is not possible to connect using a video conferencing platform, I suggest trying to reconnect three times. If we are still unsuccessful, I will invite you to reschedule.