What to do while you wait for counseling
WHAT TO DO WHILE YOU WAIT FOR COUNSELING
By Lisa Keane | MAMFC, LPC-S, REGISTERED PLAY THERAPIST SUPERVISOR, NCC
“Did I hear you correctly? There is a waiting list to get a first-time appointment for counseling?”
This question is one we all too often hear as individuals call our counseling offices for a counseling appointment. Not all of our Pathways offices have a waiting list, but many of them do, and that is hard. It is hard because we know people are hurting, and we know they would not be calling us if they did not need help right now.
Even before the pandemic hit, Pathways had experienced a great increase in need for mental health services across our state. We saw our appointments filling up and our waiting lists growing. After the pandemic, these lists reached a new high.
Current trends in mental health, even on a national level, are showing there are not enough mental health providers for the number of people seeking counseling. In addition, the rates of anxiety and depression, likely linked to the pandemic, are increasing.1 There are simply more hurting people out there than there are professionals to meet their needs.
So why is all of this information important?
At Pathways, we know the waiting is hard. We know it is not ideal for you, for your family, or for your children. We also want you to be aware that this situation is facing many of us. In light of these realities, we want to provide you with some tips and ideas that may help, if you are in a waiting season.
Be willing to be added to multiple waiting lists. It is okay to add your name to a few waiting lists around town in case someone else can get you the help you need sooner. If you get in with one agency or office, call the other offices and ask them to remove you from their wait lists.
Begin writing down your goal for counseling, symptoms you are experiencing, and how you are currently coping with the situation. Not only does this help you organize your thoughts, it makes your first counseling appointment more efficient.
In the meantime, focus on and make observations about three simple areas of your life: eating, sleeping, and movement. Begin to look at how well you are feeding your body, keep a log of or monitor your sleep patterns, and maintain or begin activity to move your body. Don’t feel that you need to overhaul these areas, rather you can start to observe and examine how your physical habits are affecting your mood.
Seek out trusted friends, clergy, or family that can be your support as you wait for counseling to start. Ask them to pray for you and with you about what is going on in your life. Ask them to check on you and share with them what you need while you wait.
Start a journal. Begin by simply writing down how you are feeling that day or tracking your mood/activities. Also include things you are grateful for in your life too. It is helpful to focus on what is going right or is good when a great deal around you seems to be going wrong.
Check out our blog posts here on helpful topics we see often in therapy. You could read some specific information regarding the area you are struggling with that could be helpful while you wait.
Be willing to see a therapist via Telehealth (over video) if that means you can be seen sooner. Telehealth has become a great option for therapists to spread out resources and help more people who might not live close to a therapist or who are facing a long wait.
Don’t be afraid to call and see how much longer the wait will be on the list. Our staff is happy to answer any questions you might have about your spot on the waiting list. Get all the paperwork and billing information completed before your appointment so that you will be ready when a therapist becomes available.
If you are reading this as someone waiting to see a counselor at Pathways, know we are so thankful you have reached out to one of our therapists. Just reaching out for counseling is a courageous first step. We want you to be encouraged that we are here and want to help you. We are hopeful that some of the steps above will help you wait well and help prepare you even more as you take your next step towards healing through counseling.
Sources:
1: https://mhanational.org/issues/state-mental-health-america