Heathy Heads and Hearts: Ridgefield Responds to Mental Heath Needs During COVID 19

 Healthy Heads and Hearts: Ridgefield Responds to Mental Health Needs of Residents During the COVID 19 Quarantine

Concerned over how the coronavirus is affecting the Ridgefield community, local psychotherapists and counselors have mobilized to offer easily accessible, pro-bono and low-cost mental health support during this stressful and uncertain time.

Sylvia Steinert LCSW reached out to the Director of Social Services, Tony Phillips LCSW, to begin this effort and within a week a group of nearly 20 providers (counselors, social workers, clergy and psychologists) volunteered to be available remotely for residents in need.

“With so much of our lives now nearly unrecognizable and direct access to those things that give life meaning largely denied,” Steinert noted, “we all need to be concerned about how this pandemic affects us and those around us. It’s so important that people know that there is support for them but also that this team can offer pro bono care at just a phone call away.”

Members of the healthy Heads and Hearts group are available to conduct counseling and support by phone or video conferencing with Ridgefield residents struggling with anxiety, depression, family stress and substance use issues.  In addition to counseling services, the therapists have also posted helpful video content and other source material covering issues ranging from relaxation to parenting tips to psychoeducation relating to loss and grieving. They will continue to update their resource list with helpful tips to help everyone in Ridgefield find the right help. The members of Healthy Heads and Hearts vary in their specialties, the insurances they take and some are able to provide pro bono services for those who’ve lost work.

Names and contact information for participating therapists and the educational content can be found at the Ridgefield Town Home Page under Social Services www.ridgefieldct.org/social-services by emailing: socialservices@ridgefieldct.org or to speak to someone live, please call Insight Counseling at (203) 431-9726. for assistance in selecting a provider from the list.

Let’s stay healthy in body and mind as we face COVID 19 together.

Liz Jorgensen, CADC, Owner Insight Counseling

Tony Phillips, LCSW and Director, Ridgefield Social Services

Sylvia Steinert, LCSW