Posted on 1st Dec
Newark and Sherwood District Council has been working with Kevin Guthrie, a psychotherapist based in Newark, to support people’s mental health and wellbeing since the start of October through Facebook live events.
From 7pm until 8pm every Wednesday, Kevin has been sharing his mental wellbeing techniques and answering resident questions on his Facebook page Guthrie Therapy. These videos have been streamed live on the council Facebook page too.
Now, thanks to their success and growing audience, the sessions will continue every Wednesday for the next few weeks. Those interested can go to the Guthrie Therapy Facebook page to find out when the next session will be.
With the newest set of restrictions in place across the country and with this festive period likely to become more difficult to celebrate with friends and family, the sessions will continue through the winter months to support people who need it most.
The council said the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic will leave a deep and lasting scar on the mental health of millions in this country. The devastating loss of life, the impact of lockdown and loneliness, and the inevitable recession that lies ahead will affect all of us.
Prioritising mental health has never been more critical than it is now. New mental health problems have developed as a result of the pandemic, and existing mental health problems have gotten worse.
Registered, accredited therapist and NCS (National Counselling Society) member Kevin Guthrie has been working with people for over 20 years and in private practice for over seven years. He got into the profession after having a poor experience in a counselling session some years ago.
Kevin says: “I love delivering the live sessions because of the people that arrive online and take part, it’s like a massive online hug.
“The group is supportive and there for each other. The sharing of tips and techniques isn’t something I expected, but it really makes the live sessions quite special. My role is to facilitate and add in some real learning around how we begin to have a healthier winter.
“We’ve had thousands of views on the live shows so far, both during and after the show. People clearly need this right now, once a week for an hour we get to talk about how we will make the week ahead of us healthier.”
Coun David Lloyd, leader of Newark and Sherwood District Council, said: “Mental wellbeing is an important issue and it’s something we want to raise awareness of and offer support to those living and working in our area.
“The sessions so far have been a huge success and it’s been a helping hand for so many people. We’re excited to keep supporting the sessions and hope more residents will be tuning in.”
