During the quarantine caused by Covid-19 many people are experiencing high levels of fear , anxiety and stress . It is normal in the context, however, these feelings can not be so harmful as to affect the day to day , and a psychological help can help you a lot .
However much has already been achieved when it comes to mental health care , there is still a huge taboo around the subject of therapy.
A survey conducted in 2016 by the Market Analysis institute revealed that only 2% of Brazilian adults in the main urban centers in the country undergo psychotherapy.
On the other hand, 30% of respondents stated that they were interested in undergoing therapy. However, only 6% said it would be very likely to adhere to the practice in the next 6 months.
Unfortunately, there are still many barriers when it comes to psychological assistance. One of them is the financial issue, after all, it is a high-cost service for most Brazilians who earn little.
In addition, people wonder about the return on investment, since it is a practice that has results in the medium and long term.
In addition, many people still consider that therapy is only necessary in cases of very serious problems. Therefore, there is a lack of knowledge regarding all the benefits of therapy.
Most people are unaware of their role in preventing mental disorders and developing social skills .
Throughout this article, we will help you better understand what therapy is and how a psychologist can help you overcome the difficulties of this quarantine. Read on for all the tips and recommendations!
Is psychological help therapy?
Since a good part of Brazilians are not clear about what therapy, psychological assistance itself, its function and benefits are, let’s start by clarifying these points.
The therapy is conducted by a psychologist, and aims to treat psychological, emotional and behavioral problems. Through verbal and non-verbal techniques, the specialized professional guides the patient to reflect on their issues and problems.
Throughout the process, the patient experiences a profound journey of self – knowledge in which he finds different ways to relieve his discomforts and disturbances.
Therapy, therefore, is capable of changing thoughts, emotions and behaviors, promoting the development of skills and making people’s daily lives healthier and happier.
In the long run, the patient becomes more mature in relation to himself, which also benefits him in terms of relationships with other people.
Eliminate the idea that only those who have serious illnesses or problems are in therapy. To do therapy is to have the courage to face all your questions and seek self-knowledge that will make you a better person.
Consequently, therapy is a way to evolve, that is, to develop new skills, to know your emotions and to be able to relate better with others.
Don’t be ashamed to seek help
One of the big taboos around therapy is the question of whether people still think seeking help is a sign of weakness. Having the courage to be vulnerable is, in fact, a strength.
In a context where people are nervous and living on the edge, there is no reason to be ashamed of seeking psychological help. Taking care of the mind is essential during isolation, because only then is it possible to live this moment in a healthy way.
How a psychological aid helps you in quarantine
As good as talking to friends and family is good and provides relief in certain situations, they are not a substitute for qualified listening. Only a psychologist is able to exercise that important qualified listening throughout a therapy process.
Unlike friends and family who give advice and say that everything will be fine, the psychologist has another role. He has a professional role! Your friends are not knowledgeable enough to handle everything you have to say.
In addition, they are not trained to carry out appropriate technical interventions to help you approach the solution of a problem.
A psychologist has no role in giving advice or judging morally . It is trained to be able to analyze and understand human behavior. His listening is not only attentive, but also intelligent and grounded, ready to go beyond the obvious.
Qualified listening is one of the main pillars of a therapy session.
A psychologist will be able to help you because he will be able to absorb information about your needs and provide quality assistance. That way, he will be able to recognize your pains and anguishes and help you to work them in the best way.
A psychologist does not provide a step-by-step guide to happiness and problem solving. He respects the individuality of each one , contributing so that each person finds his way and strengthens himself.
He is a professional responsible for helping the patient to create more awareness of himself, his actions, patterns and feelings. During this process, it is capable of awakening deep self-knowledge.
The awakening that psychological assistance provides
Throughout life, we create patterns and truths that we follow in our daily lives. In this way, our convictions can imprison us and generate suffering. Such suffering results in psychological storms and conflicts that are difficult to live with.
Working with a psychologist is a way to break some of these patterns that cause pain. The specialized professional is able to analyze our thoughts and behaviors and formulate questions that make room for new views of life.
Therapy is therefore an awakening. Through sessions, the person gets to know each other better, understands their triggers and creates new perceptions about themselves and others.
Finally, stop and think about how important it is, in this quarantine moment, to talk to someone who has qualified listening and is able to help you overcome anxiety, fear or any other issues.
How to resort to psychological assistance during quarantine?
Now that you have understood how a psychologist can help you during quarantine, the question comes: how to do therapy at home? After all, we cannot leave the house to prevent the spread of the disease.
The good news is that there are already platforms like Vittude , which connect psychologists to patients virtually.
This means that you don’t even have to leave the house to find your psychologist, schedule and conduct your session. Amid social isolation, technology has helped many people to take care of mental health.
In addition, online therapy consultations are often much more affordable. At a time when the country is also facing an economic crisis, it is important to point out several actions that have emerged in favor of mental health care.
It is worth noting that not all are classified as a therapy session, but as a psychological support and reception at that time.
Then, meet some of them!
Never alone – Vittude
In case you still don’t know, Vittude is a Brazilian startup founded in 2016. It has a mission to democratize access to psychology and mental health services. As much as the online therapy already has lower values and, therefore, is more accessible, it may not be enough for many people.
The Alone is never a social action that aims to further democratize access to therapy at a time when it is so necessary.
To encourage more people to seek psychological help, Sozinhos Never allows you to schedule a first therapy session for a social fee of R $ 20.00.
Full Psyche
The psychology clinic in the capital of Paraíba created a WhatsApp group with online psychological duty. The goal is to provide emotional support, guide and clarify doubts of people who need help during quarantine.
The channel is a way for people to talk about anguish and fears at that moment, that is, taking care of mental health.
Psicorpus
The Psicorpus clinic, in Bahia, created a 24-hour psychological telephone call. Four psychologists from different specialties have been selected to support people who are looking for help.
Dial RN Coronavirus
In Rio Grande do Norte, a Call Center is in operation with the objective of answering questions and provide psychological care to people during quarantine.
Psychological assistance will be provided by volunteer professionals, who will help the population to deal with anxiety, stress and other emotions. Disque RN Coronavirus can be activated by phone from 7 am to 11 pm.
CVV (Life Valuation Center)
Contact for psychological assistance should be made by calling 188 or the institution’s website. It works 24 hours a day.
Pará Psychology Project – Psychological Support Network
The government of Pará launched a digital platform, Projeto Psicologia Pará – Psychological Support Network , which aims to mitigate the impacts of the pandemic on mental health. The platform connects volunteer psychologists to people who need this type of assistance.
The service is focused on people from Pará over 18 years of age. Each person can request the scheduling of up to three appointments, but it is worth mentioning that this is not a psychotherapy service.
They are brief visits aimed at psychological attention of a specific demand, according to the moment we are living.
Support for health professionals in DF
The Regional Council of Psychology of the Federal District created an action to attract volunteer psychologists who want to act during the coronavirus pandemic. The objective of the project is to offer psychological assistance (virtual or by phone) to health professionals.
Frontline doctors need care at this time when they live with a lot of tension and high stress peaks. Physical and mental tiredness need to be managed and any help at this time is welcome.
United Salvador
Voluntary psychologists from Bahia made themselves available to offer free psychological care over the phone to anyone who is in need of support right now. They serve people from all over Brazil from 5 am to 11 pm, Monday to Friday.
The conversations last around 20 minutes and aim to help the patient to understand what he is feeling and to know tools that can help him deal with emotions.
Elderly care
The Psychiatric Institute of Hospital das Clínicas de São Paulo is offering free online care for people over 60 who have depression or anxiety.
Eight psychotherapists from the Aging Group of the Neuroscience Laboratory of IPQ are responsible for the consultations, with sessions that last 20 minutes.
Solidary Psychology
The project was created by five psychologists from Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo. It has already brought together more than 700 psychologists from all over Brazil to assist health professionals who are at the forefront of combating the coronavirus pandemic.
It is worth mentioning that the more than 700 psychologists work under the supervision of 30 clinical supervisors to ensure that all requirements of the professional code of ethics are met.
