Bringing you up to date, Seniors, pandemic and moving on to regular notes next week.

I hope you are healthy as you read this. Today one of my universities asked us as alumni to say something to present students. I provided a blurb, called a sibling to see if it did sound good and sent it. I am always amazed at how the universities I went to, reach out to us. I loved university. I have attended two more webinars since I wrote you last as well as my weekly self and client care. I also reached out to a Seniors community centre to offer group work pro bono. I reached as well to a homeless shelter for the same. I quickly heard from the Senior Centre because seniors are suffering so much in isolation. This is my way of giving back. One of our associations asked us to volunteer as Emergency Response for disasters etc…and I did think about that. It involved providing three sessions pro bono and then recommended a price for ongoing treatment or we could offer our full rates. I did not choose to go that route. I feel a sense of responsibility to my clients. When I started practising I was asked by a church to provide free sessions as part of a draw for funds needed by the church. I thought about this and then went to an Association I belonged to and asked if this was ethical. They provided me with some ideas to think about and I did. I finally said no to the church. If I would give three sessions let’s say for free what happens when there are a lot of issues to deal with and the recipient needs more care? I have an obligation. Do I just say that’s it? What happens if the person cannot afford therapy, etc……That was the motivating factor for saying no to the emergency response. During these times of crises there is money for that with the government and charity organizations. That is why I did not volunteer for that. What this pandemic has taught me is that there is a great need for seniors. Retirement homes were the hardest hit. When the military was sent to retirement homes to assist, that spoke volumes to me. Not all aged homes who could have asked for help did. One thing may have been culture. Some people came here from countries where they have suffered abuse from their own police and military. They would fear our military in their homes. They have been traumatized in their countries of origin. That is only one factor that I am suggesting. I have known for years that seniors suffer in homes for the aged. I don’t know how many w 5 or 60 minutes type of shows have brought attention to that. Seniors who have provided so much to society are now suffering neglect. How did we allow this to continue for so long? Some are now saying that Senior homes should not be for profit. In Quebec there was so much negligence in one private home that during an investigation, a nurse went from viewing what was happening, to return to her vehicle to cry. That alone is so upsetting. Not all homes have suffered from the pandemic and perhaps that should be examined. Why are some homes free of the pandemic and others so bad that one, that I know of had to be closed down? What went so wrong? I hope that people can learn from this pandemic. I hope that we can open our eyes to see where work needs to be done and improved. Our premier Ford just the other day on the news was so mad at greedy corporations who are refusing to give tenants/businesses a break that if they don’t he is coming for them. The language didn’t surprise me. I also found it comforting. It is the right thing to do. Our government is also helping so why can’t they do their part. So many people are not working right now. Someone told me just yesterday how fortunate I am to be working. It takes me back to my Ethics course last December before this all started. My colleagues from that Association mainly work in hospitals and are so overworked, one told me how luck I am to have a private practice and to make my own decisions of how many clients I should have. They were very right and now I wonder how everyone is faring. They are the ones that people turn to. How do they maintain their own self care? My associations have been wonderful, especially the Canadian Association of Marriage and Family Therapists. I am at awe at how hard they worked to try to make deals with corporations of different platforms authorized to use and more. I did check with the American Association of Family Therapists legal team for ethics regarding providing therapy for Americans. The response was that it was doubtful because I would have to check with each State and be registered with that State etc…….I informed the lawyer that I would not renew my association. It is not with spite, it is just too costly. They too are providing free webinars but aside from the one when I first examined an online platform I have already attended or studied from their perspective. I need new. I am not altogether in letting this option go. I am a Registered Psychotherapist and that is another route I can examine in the future. For now I shall drop the AAMFT and select another Association which consists of a range of psychiatrists, psychologists, therapists etc…….. I think this would be a better choice for me right now and for my clients. However, I shall wait until this pandemic is over. I will miss AAMFT. However, the cost is much to high especially with the state of our dollar right now. It is now practical. The lawyer suggested I stay for the option of attending the conferences. As you know I cannot leave my pets for more than two nights. They grieve each time I leave and are not friendly with others. I rescued them and they do not feel comfortable with others. They are now 19 years old but are so happy and healthy that they might just hang in there. As you know Holy Terror is the star in “The Internet Murders” www.silvaredigonda.com . I also belong to the Sisters of Crime and I have been very pleased with the two webinars they provided. One was at the end of the day on Tuesday where I could barely keep my focus since it was a long day. The other was on Saturday night and I was wide awake and keen. That is the one with the Forensic Psychologist. Initially, she began with the differences between a psychologist and psychiatrist and I thought it was going to be boring as so many webinars have been for me simply because I already know all that. However, that did not stay long. She was riveting. Her lecture covered two of my careers. She has written about 60 books non fiction, and is teaching at an American University. She is also providing a two day on line course. If I wasn’t so busy, I would definitely be interested in doing a PHD in Forensic Psychology at that university. However, I am just one person and I cannot simply do it all. She deserves a full blog and I will provide that. For now I think I have brought you up to date. If you are bored you can buy one of my three books. Keep yourselves safe and please listen to the infectious- disease doctors even if some politicians think they know better. Be able to distinguish opinions from experts in the field. I have decided to continue self isolating and see what happens to the statistics in two weeks. Stay safe and God bless. What do you think? I will like to continue with my theology and psych notes. If you ever have questions, don’t hesitate to ask.