Ep 16: Responses, Coping, and Parenting During COVID-19 with Lauren Hollis.
In the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak, we are all constantly faced with the reactions of those around us. Lauren Hollis joins us today to talk about helpful ways of coping with external responses, as well as those within ourselves and our families. Lauren is a counselor in the Woodlands area and an LPC-certified child life specialist. As such she is very well positioned to give an informed perspective on what we are currently facing with the global pandemic. It is so important to understand our own responses and then to apply understanding to these and the ones we encounter. There is loads of great information and ideas in today’s episode as we explore the implications of being housebound, homeschooling and other people’s trigger points. Lauren argues that it is a great time to consciously allow ourselves and others more grace, even when it is tough! We talk about the array of reactions that we might witness in light of the coronavirus and how these can be tough to agree with. However with understanding, we can allow space for other people; we never know what is going on in someone’s home, internal world and the traumas that might be surfacing through stress. Lauren delves into creating an environment for children that is spacious and encouraging, she does not believe it is the time to be too demanding or losing our cool. Basically we can all do with a little more slack during such a heightened and unprecedented period. For all this and a whole lot more, join us on the show today! Stay safe and take care!
Key Points From This Episode:
- Lauren’s personal and professional background and her focus as a counselor.
- The different reactions we are facing with the outbreak of the coronavirus
- How COVID-19 is limiting people’s ability to naturally respond to stress.
- Having space and patience for reactions that might disagree with us at first.
- The influence of past traumas and how these events might trigger these.
- We do not know others’ traumas, home life and problems; empathy is key.
- Taking a step back and forgetting our needs for an immediate fix.
- Preparing for the inevitable difficulties that will arise; this can make it more manageable.
- Considerations with children and their feelings and behaviors.
- Having important and considerate conversations about what is going on in everyone’s lives.
- Different types of emotions and ways that these can be expressed.
- Adult coping mechanisms for this period; fresh air, journaling, self-care and more!
- Mindfulness and recognizing our own feelings; resources and practices.
- Telehealth in the counseling space and using video to offer the same quality of service.
- A message of hope from Lauren; the planet and reconnection in stressful times.
- How to get in touch with Lauren and The Center for Hope and Healing.
Tweetables:
“It’s okay to expect that you might struggle during in this time.” — Lauren Hollis [0:13:28]
“During this time we have to have a higher level of empathy for others.” — Lauren Hollis [0:15:02]
“We are not the only ones in this.” — Lauren Hollis [0:18:13]
“This effects all of us so that can really be a unifying thing that we are all in this, no matter what.” — Lauren Hollis [0:39:35]
Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
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