A Big Thank You
Posted by Improving Lives Counseling Services, Inc. | Articles
The upcoming holiday season is the perfect time to say Thank You to our team of licensed professional counselors, therapists and clinicians, and our administrative and support teams. Improving Lives Counseling Services would not have experienced the success we have seen throughout 2020 and 2021 had it not been for your ability to quickly and effectively adjust to changes brought on by the recent pandemic. Your dedication, commitment, and continued contributions, as we incorporated social distancing, hybrid sessions, and the expansion of online services, is praiseworthy.
To the many clients who kept appointments, adjusted to social-distancing in-person sessions, and group hybrid and online sessions, a big Thank You. At your most vulnerable time under divergent conditions, you continued to believe in the care we provided. You recognized the importance of maintaining psychological health, and the impact of mental wellbeing.
The pandemic brought about major life changes. Many experienced shifts in the workplace, economic changes, job loss, loss of health insurance, homelessness, bereavement, and grief. Many parents were forced to become in-home teachers – adults and children, senior caregivers. Despite changes in income, working from home, and sheltering-in-place, you allowed us to stand alongside you, providing mental health coping tools to control stress, anxiety, and depression. Your validation of the care and services we provide, enabled us to expand our market footprint and become better serving this community we care so much about.
Studies estimate that 22% of Oklahomans suffer from some form of mental illness – the third highest rate in the United States. A 2020 study reported 950,000 people in Oklahoma struggle with mental illness and/or addiction. This is why we do what we do, and why we didn’t allow COVID-19, or the lifestyle changes brought on by the pandemic, stop us from providing psychological and mental health care. As more younger Americans (due to the pandemic) reported symptoms of mental illness, thanks to you, and the growth we experienced, we were able to diagnosis their symptoms, treat their illnesses, and provide the exceptional service we have long been known for.
As another holiday season approaches, and 2021 comes to an end, I thank you for validating us as mental health specialists and referring Oklahomans seeking and/or needing mental health care. Thank you for trusting us to meet your mental health needs and for the patronage you continually provide.
Have a Safe and Happy Holiday Season, and a Happy New Year.
Kneale Ewing
President and Founder of Improving Lives Counseling Services
