Through a new group called “Quarantine and Connect,” Counseling Services is providing a way for students in quarantine or isolation to remain in community by virtually meeting on Monday afternoons with others who are quarantined or isolated.
As the number of students increased who were isolated and quarantined, Tamarin Huelin, director of counseling services, began to see a need for support among those who are alone. Mary Lawson Day, a counselor at Union for six years, saw that other colleges were doing support groups for students in quarantine and that we had the resources to do the same. If any student is not socially connected in quarantine, this group gives them the opportunity to meet other students who are going through the same circumstances with professionally trained counselors to offer support along the way.
“We keep using the word ‘socially distanced,’” Huelin said. “But I don’t really like that word because I think we can be physically distant but still stay socially connected.”
There are four goals within the group. (1) Offer support to one another, which starts with asking how everyone is doing in general. (2) Share coping skills, which looks like providing examples of helpful ways to cope with the isolation. (3) Stay socially connected, which simply involves talking about life together. (4) Process thoughts and emotions, which starts with asking how the students can make good use of this time.
“We, as Christians, are called into relationship. We are called into community. We are brothers and sisters.” Day said. “The whole idea of supporting each other and receiving encouragement from somebody else in a similar situation can be more effective than counseling.”
Counseling Services has seen an increase in requests from people in quarantine, and there is usually a waiting list to receive a counseling appointment. Quarantine and Connect provides a way for these students to have a place to process and meet people walking through the same circumstances.
If you find yourself quarantined or isolated and would like to join the group, you can visit uu.edu/counseling. They meet on Mondays from 3:30-4:15 p.m. All you need to do is scroll down to “Upcoming Support Groups” on the page, and click on the Zoom link. There is no need to register ahead of time.
