Innerspace Insights - July 2021
Employee Spotlight: Innerspace Counseling’s Mental Healthcare Heroes
Each edition of Innerspace Insights highlights an employee who we thank and acknowledge for their hard work and dedication. For this edition, choosing one feels impossible. Over the last 16 months we have witnessed an unprecedented need for mental health services through the COVID 19 pandemic. The pandemic was also compounded by political and social unrest that further increased the need for services. The impact of that need and the high level of acuity in patients had implications agency wide.
In March of 2020 the agency had to put together a telehealth model for Mental Health Intensive Outpatient and Partial Hospitalization Programs within a week. From then, our administrative staff experienced an increase in call volume, new patients to process, and an increase of active patients needing appointments, refills, and more. Our clinicians went through the unique experience of treating patients who are experiencing a once in a lifetime pandemic while simultaneously going through it themselves. The needs of our patients and families were heightened during this time and so the demands on our team were as well.
Thank you to our Innerspace Counseling Healthcare Heroes for all you have contributed to our agency and clients over this past year. We are appreciative to each and every one of you for showing up everyday and putting the needs of our clients first and working as a team to provide high quality care through what will certainly be one of the most challenging times in our history:
Dr. Arthur Platt, Dr. Jennifer Platt, Courtney Zambrano, Melissa Maranzano, Jodi Ster, Martha Wolfe, Carmela Veniero, Lynne Rutstein, Raechel Mercado, Christine Circello, Caitlyn Moran, Sara Brinkerhoff, Amanda Pallitto, Michelle Gove, Lisa Ruiz, Tunisha Holmes, Daniela Gallardo, Shavonne Hogan, Anthony Zazzarino, Lindsay Sowder, Kellen Polito, Vernee Brooks, & Sue Robertiello-Manley.
Mental Health Topic: Grounding Techniques for Anxiety & Panic
Grounding techniques are a proven way of taking control during an anxiety or panic attack. They can also be useful for those experiencing PTSD. They are helpful in pulling you out of your thoughts and emotions and into the present moment. Grounding activities that you can try are putting your hands into cold water and focus on the feeling, think and name as many things as you can in categories such as “reptiles” or “desserts”, or taking deep breaths. Another technique is the 5-4-3-2-1 Grounding Technique where you name 5 things you can see, 4 things you can touch, 3 things you can hear, 2 things you can smell, and 1 thing you can taste. You should practice this technique in moments of calm so that it becomes a mastered skill that you can utilize when you are feeling anxious or panicked.
