Cultivating Calm in the Midst of COVID-19

Maryland Addiction Recovery Center Clinical Director, Dr. Jennifer Richards, oversees a clinical staff of nine masters level therapists and one drug and alcohol counselor here at MARC. As all of society is dealing with the emotional and mental health impact of the ongoing coronavirus public health pandemic, so too are professionals working in the field of addiction and mental health treatment. Self-care is vital for clinicians to be at their best when helping others. So too are professionals in leadership positions now in need of learning how to best support their teams and workforces through the COVID-19 crisis. So here are some pointers and suggestions from Dr. Richards regarding how to best support your staff, your team, and other mental health and addiction treatment professionals as we continue to navigate our way through the coronavirus.

“Brene Brown recently posted that ‘anxiety is one of the most contagious emotions, and that’s why it often takes out groups instead of just individuals. Calm is also contagious, but it requires a daily intention and practice.’ My team at MARC are experts when it comes to managing mental health and addiction crises. However, dealing with these issues in the face of a global pandemic is new to everyone, and it’s becoming tougher and tougher to leave our issues at the door when we come into work.

I’ve started to create more times for the clinical team here at Maryland Addiction Recovery Center to get together specifically to talk about COVID-19, how it’s impacting us professionally and personally, and how to make sure that my team has the resources and support they need to feel safe and secure. My recommendation to anyone in a leadership position is to make sure you’re creating the time and space to cultivate calm within your team.”

We are all dealing with some level of fear and anxiety surrounding the ongoing COVID-19 public health pandemic, whether it’s generalized anxiety, fear of what we cannot control, discomfort with interrupted lives, fear for the health, safety, and well-being of ourselves and our loved ones, the anxiety of financials, the loss of employment, or the impact on a business, amongst hundreds of other forms of discomfort, anxiety, and fear. We believe it is important for our leadership team here at MARC to make sure we are appropriately supporting our team and our employees, so that they feel safe and secure and, in turn, can create a space of safety, security, and emotional health and balance for our patients in need. We hope that you are finding the safety and support you need in order to “cultivate calm” in your lives as we get through this together.

If you or someone you know needs help for addiction or co-occurring disorder issues, please give us a call. Maryland Addiction Recovery Center offers the most comprehensive dual diagnosis addiction treatment in the Mid-Atlantic area. If we aren’t the best fit for you or your loved one, we will take the necessary time to work with you to find a treatment center or provider that better fits your needs. Please give us a call at (410) 773-0500 or email our team at [email protected]. For more information on all of our drug addiction, alcohol addiction and co-occurring disorder services and recovery resources, please visit our web site at www.marylandaddictionrecovery.com.