4/17/2020

Dear Friends, Colleagues, and GPA Members,
 
As we are now several weeks into this new reality of COVID-19, I’d like to reach out to you all to say hello. We have all been challenged to adapt our practices, business, and lives. It is a stressful time, but your perseverance, creativity, and compassion are incredibly encouraging. Please pace yourselves and take care. Here’s a video message from me:
GPA Sources of Support

1.    The Georgia Psychological Association, in collaboration with the Georgia Psychological Foundation, are hosting Virtual Support Group Meetings. We want to hear from YOU- our friends and colleagues about your concerns and how you and those you care about are coping, as you/we face this pandemic. Dr. Betsy Gard and GPA President, Dr. Laura Dilly will help moderate as we share our challenges and what we feel is helping us to remain resilient. We will share resources that we see as helpful to us and to our clients. We will also provide information on where you can volunteer, if you are interested. Please join us for this time of sharing and caring while building our own resiliency.  The next meeting is Thursday, April 23 from 7:30-8:30pm. Register here: https://www.gapsychology.org/events/EventDetails.aspx?id=1364939&group=
 
2.   GPA member and Treasurer, Dr. Rabia Subhani, has created two 20-minute mindfulness activities for us all during this stressful time. Take a few minutes today to care for yourself!
Opportunities to Volunteer and Serve

1.   If you are a Premium or Platinum member, update your member profile at www.gapsychology.org . In our referral system, we now have fields to identify if you conduct telepsychology and are currently taking clients. We want to have this updated so that we can easily make referrals and direct other agencies to our referral list.
 
2.    WellStar Health System,  a not-for-profit system, is requesting assistance with crisis debriefing at hospitals and counseling for healthcare worker distress secondary to COVID-19. Indicate your availability to provide services  on this form  and email it to  Trisha.Velasco@wellstar.org . In particular, they are looking for psychologists who take Aetna insurance.
 
3.   Volunteer with the  Red Cross . Please send any questions to:  GARecruit@redcross.org .

4.   Volunteer with the  State Emergency Registry of Volunteers in Georgia . SERVGA integrates government-sponsored local, regional and statewide volunteer programs to assist emergency response and public safety organizations during a disaster. It is part of a national initiative to coordinate and mobilize volunteers to respond to all types of emergencies. Register  here   and see more information  here .
 
5.   GPA has created a database of volunteer psychologists who are willing to provide services for first responders and healthcare workers experiencing distress secondary to COVID-19. We will be sharing this list with organizations for them or their responders/healthcare workers to contact you directly. If you would like to be a part of the database, please complete this  form.
 
 
Additional GPA and APA COVID-19 Resources

1.   Both GPA and APA have dedicated COVID-19 resource pages. In particular, I call your attention to the APA Pandemic Resource Page which contains many excellent resources.
2.   In addition, GPA will be posting a new set of videos from Dr. Betsy Gard on topics including COVID-19 with a crisis model; resilience for yourself, children, and the elderly; and many, many resources.

Be Well,
Laura Dilly, PhD
President, Georgia Psychological Association