An East Kilbride psychotherapist has revealed how she has seen an increase in people looking for help during the COVID-19 lockdown.
Jennifer McMillan who runs a private practice, McMillan Counselling based in the Village has recently returned to face to face counselling following lockdown restrictions and is urging residents in East Kilbride to seek help if they need it.
Jennifer believes that the pandemic has brought about a variety of challenges for people to face, such as working from home, isolating with partners, lack of childcare and having no social life has resulted in people looking for counselling.
Jennifer told the News : “Now that things are starting to resemble some sort of normality, I’ve experienced an increase in people looking for help.
“I think for a lot of people, the issues have potentially already been there and lockdown has really brought them to the forefront.
“Whether it was for adults or young people, NHS counselling waiting lists, which were already large, grew substanially during lockdown.
“And that’s not a criticism on the NHS, that’s just about a service that’s under so much pressure and under even more pressure now with the backlog.
“And I just want people to know that it is ok to not be ok, that it is ok to reach out for help and to know that there are lots of places and ways to access help.
“We are in the middle of a global pandemic, but this is a time we must encourage people who are struggling to seek help otherwise we are going to be faced with a mental-health pandemic.”
Although Jennifer who has worked for various organisations, runs a private business, she offers specific support for students and individuals on low-incomes, something she feels is particularly important in the current COVID-19 world.
For teenagers and school children, Jennifer is encouraging students who are struggling to seek out counselling.
“I try and make my support as accessible as possible,” added Jennifer,
“For students, my rates are halved and I am totally flexible when it comes to arranging sessions.
“Schools, particularly high schools in the area have an important part to play.
“There are some schools who don’t offer counselling.
“And at this time where we have a whole raft of teenagers who have just came out of lockdown and returned to school facing difficulties with homework, socialisation and some facing the fear of the ‘real world’ we must step in and reach out to these kids to help them through these challenging times.
“To me, counselling should be encouraged, and young people shouldn’t be afraid to access it.”
For more information about Jennifer’s services, visit: www.counselling-directory.org.uk/counsellors/jennifer-mcmillan
