For Clinicians, Health Care Providers and First Responders

William James College faculty members are hosting discussion groups for healthcare professionals (offered in English and Spanish). For dates, times and login details please visit our Public Events Calendar page.

Podcast: "Unprecedented: Nursing During a Pandemic"

A collaboration between Laboure College and William James College. Front-line nurses interview psychologists on coping with and healing from COVID-19 related trauma. Full episodes available here.

Web Series: COVID-19 Conversations for Clinicians

Open to all health care professionals, worldwide. This prerecorded series addresses the unique pressures, fears, and demands (both personal and professional) placed on clinicians during the COVID-19 pandemic and offers strategies to cope, persevere, and survive each day—with a special focus on sustainability and resilience. Hosted by Dr. Tina Runyan and Dr. Joan Fleishman, clinical health psychologists and faculty, with specialized expertise in supporting health care professionals. Watch the series here.

Tips for Self-Care

Responding to COVID-19 can take an emotional toll. There are things medical professionals and first responders can do to reduce secondary traumatic stress (STS) reactions:

  • Acknowledge that STS can impact anyone helping families after a traumatic event.
  • Learn the symptoms including physical (fatigue, illness) and mental (fear, withdrawal, guilt).
  • Allow time for you and your family to recover from responding to the pandemic.
  • Create a menu of personal self-care activities that you enjoy, such as spending time with friends and family, exercising, or reading a book.
  • Take breaks from media coverage of COVID-19.
  • Ask for help if you feel overwhelmed or concerned that COVID-19 is affecting your ability to care for your family and patients as you did before the outbreak.

Adapted from the CDC website. Read more CDC tips for taking care of yourself during emergency response and read the SAMHSA tip sheet, Tips for Disaster Responders: Preventing and Managing Stress.