THE REVERE ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2020 Page 15 SURVEY | FROM Page 1 gaging with those families directly to fi nd ways we can modify our programs,” said Kelly. “Our number one priority is to make sure our students are learning and can access the curriculum. That means we have to tweak our practices, and we’re willing to do that.” Kelly said school offi cials are aware that there are challenges and areas for improvement inherent with the remote learning model. “I don’t want to sound like this is all sunshine and roses … but at least looking at the data can help us identify where those areas are and address them,” Kelly said. The School Committee also got a fi rsthand account of what remote learning is like for some students courtesy of Ryan Doucette, a Revere High senior and the student representative to the committee. “This has been a challenging year, and one of the challenges we have had to face is adjusting to this new remote environment,” he said. Overall, Doucette said, most of the students he has spoken to have been making that adjustment, but he added that he agrees with Dr. Kelly that there are some students who are having more diffi culty. “I feel that with time we will be able to fi gure out how we can improve remote learning,” Doucette said. “It’s still very early, and we have a lot of time left with it, potentially. I feel there is room for improvement, but I’m confi dent that we have the right people in place to make those improvements.” Another positive note in the high school is the number of students taking part in clubs and extracurricular activities. “I know that was a major concern for a lot of teachers, whether student involvement and extracurricular activities were going to be as present as in years prior,” said Doucette. “What I’ve found is that student involvement in extracurricular activities has stayed pretty much the same, and in some cases, even gotten better.” 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 difficulties 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 off ering 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 offers 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 Qualified 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 offer low-cost 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.
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