Coronavirus relationship advice as Relate Bradford moves counselling services to telephone and video call.
Counsellors at Relate, the leading relationships charity in England and Wales, have responded to the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak by putting together advice for maintaining healthy relationships during social distancing and self-isolation. The tips, which are available in full on Relate’s national website, cover topics such as how to stay connected, avoid falling out with your partner and family members, and how to talk to your children about the virus and reduce anxiety.
Relate Bradford has suspended its face-to-face services in response to the pandemic. However, to enable them to continue to support the community’s relationships, the charity has increased its capacity to deliver counselling via telephone and webcam.
Tabitha, Therapist at Relate Bradford said:
“The coronavirus pandemic is changing things for all of us on an individual and societal level. Some people are being thrown into being together 24-7 after previously having quite busy very separate lives this can bring new intensities and difficulties.
Others are separated from their loved ones and may not have physical connection with partners, family or anyone for months.
For some people lockdown is providing an opportunity to slow down, and for others, such as key workers and those working remotely, work stress has ramped up the pressures people are facing.
Anxiety affects everyone, and their relationships, in different ways. Relate Bradford’s Counsellors and Psycho-sexual Therapists are still here to help. People can self-refer, and receive tips on our website: https://relatebradford.org/“
The tips are available in full on Relate’s National’s website and include :
– If you are self-isolating at home you may feel disconnected from others. Make use of social media, text, instant messaging, phone and video messaging as ways of keeping connected.
– Your routines and roles may change if one or both of you are working from home. This could be a challenge or an opportunity so try to make it work for you by checking in regularly about how this is going.
– You may need to get creative with the space if you are both working from home. Take turns to share the most comfortable spot.
– Stick to facts when talking to children and communicate with them calmly, consciously and responsibly, using simple language.
– Try to avoid using catastrophising language. Brushing things under the carpet can also increase anxiety so aim to strike a balance.
– If somebody says or does something to upset you, try counting to ten and taking some deep breaths. It may be that you no longer feel the need to ‘react.’
Visit http://relate.org.uk to find out more about their digital services and access a range of information and self-help.
