Owner and co-founder of the phenomenally busy Lincoln-based Naomi Watkins Counselling Hub today pledged that her team would continue supporting hundreds of clients during the Coronavirus epidemic.
Owner Naomi Watkins-Ligudzinska said the Community Interest Company, whose team members are using their individual expertise to help around 100 people a week – who are suffering from anxiety, trauma, depression and complex mental health needs – are determined that people will not be left ‘high and dry.’
But she explained that the team is facing challenges because (unless the Chancellor intervenes) the CIC could find itself short of funds to carry on its work depending on how long the current crisis lasts.
“We are open and ready to support clients and businesses right now but we are transitioning to the use of telephone and Online options to maintain the level of service we provide. We feel this is vitally important.
“Every client – from children with their parents to elderly individuals – is assessed when they are referred to us and given a bespoke programme of support. That gives them some idea of how many sessions they might need to help them start getting their lives back on track.
“Obviously, in the current climate, we are concerned about everyone’s mental health, but we don’t want all the good work we have been doing with our current clients to be undone, when many of them are doing so well. This is why we are relying on telephone and online contact.
“Funding-wise we have had some wonderful grants over the past three years for specific aspects of our work. That support has helped us to counsel many more people in need from all walks of life.
“However, in a general sense, and thinking about the weeks ahead, we hope to see some Government intervention to help us in these unprecedented circumstances because the local Clinical Care Commissioning Group currently has no statutory obligation to finance us.
“Without this sort of support, we may have to reduce our help for clients due to potential financial pressures and that is the last thing we want.”
Naomi’s advice for everyone trying to manage their mental health under the Coronavirus, is prioritise your self-care, avoid excessive consumption of the media, focus on things you can control like staying home and handwashing, keep in touch with family and friends via telephone and online services. Eat well, stay hydrated, have a walk once a day, keep busy with things you enjoy doing.
For further information, please contact Naomi Watkins-Ligudzinska on 07772 532185
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