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Page 18 THE EVERETT ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2020 OBITUARIES | FROM PAGE 15 the late Albert G. Loving mother of David of Burlington, Joan Sunderland & her husband Mark of Burlington and Luanne Cordeau & her husband Daniel of Concord. Proud grandmother of Stacy Comb & her husband Brad, Marianne Munroe, Haley & Michael Cordeau. Great Grandmother of Gracelyn Rose Maribito and Allison Comb. Sister of Lawrence Cannon of Concord, NH, and the late Winifred Farineau, Janet Vangel, Janice Chalifour, Ruth Conley, William, James, Charles & George Cannon. In lieu of fl owers, memorials in Dorothy’s name may be made to Alzheimer’s Association, 309 Waverley Oaks Road, Waltham, MA 02452 www. alzmassnh.org. Sa Sa a Sa BY JIM MILLER How to Find an Online Therapist Dear Savvy Senior, What is the best way to fi nd online therapy services for my anxiety and depression? I just turned 63 and have become increasingly hopeless since the COVID pandemic hit and cost me my job. I need to get some professional help, but I’m also high risk for illness and very concerned about leaving the house. Need Help Dear Need, I’m sorry to hear about your job loss and the diffi culties you’re going through right now, but you’re not alone. Because of the coronavirus pandemic and resulting economic downturn, fear, anxiety and depression is being reported by 45 percent of Americans, according a Kaiser Family Foundation tracking poll. To help you through this diffi cult time there are a variety of therapists, psychologists, and other mental health providers you can turn to. And because of the pandemic, most of them are now offering counsel to their clients online through teletherapy services. This will allow you to interact virtually with a therapist from the comfort of your home using only a smartphone, tablet or computer. How to Find a Therapist A good fi rst step to locating a therapist is to ask your primary care provider or family and friends for a referral. You can also look on your insurer’s website for a list of therapists covered under your plan. But be aware that some insurers have limited, or even no coverage for mental health and many mental healthcare providers don’t participate in insurance plans. (Medicare does cover mental health services.) Other resources to help you fi nd a good therapist include online fi nder tools at the American Psychological Association (locator.apa.org) and the American Psychiatric Association (fi nder.psychiatry.org). If you want some help, there are also online platforms that can help match you with a licensed mental health provider. For example, Talkspace (talkspace. com) and BetterHelp (betterhelp.com), are virtual services you can access through your phone or computer, that contracts with thousands of licensed and credentialed therapists. The process starts with a few questions to assess your goals, your condition, and your preferences, and then matches you with some top therapists in your state. If you don’t have insurance coverage or can’t aff ord therapy, you can call or text 211 (or go to 211.org) anytime for a referral to a provider who off ers support at no cost or on a sliding scale, based on your budget. You can also call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 24/7 and ask for a referral to a local resource or provider or ask to be transferred to their “warm line” for nonemergency calls, where you can talk anonymously to a trained professional at no cost. Another possible option is Federally Qualifi ed Health Centers, which are community-based health centers, some of which may off er teletherapy services at no-cost. To search for centers in your area visit FindAHealthCenter. hrsa.gov. There’s also this website called Open Path Collective (openpathcollective.org), where therapists off er lowcost online sessions for between $30 and $60. Interview Your Therapist Before you start sessions with a therapist, it’s important to make sure he or she meets your needs. If you’re not comfortable with the person, you’re unlikely to benefi t from the therapy. So, schedule a call or a video chat to get a feel for each other, and to ask about the therapist’s training, years in practice, specialties, therapy techniques and fee. Ideally the therapist you choose will be a good personality fi t for you and will be within your budget and/or covered by your insurance. Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit SavvySenior. org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of “The Savvy Senior” book. y Senin y Senior nioreniior Sen or

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