Envision Counselling and Support Centre's Walk-In Counselling will officially resume in-person services next week in Weyburn and Estevan.

Walk-In Counsellor Larissa Smeltzer told Discover Weyburn she's looking forward to getting back face-to-face with walk-in clients.

"I'm more than excited to get back on location. I really enjoy the locations I get to work in," she said. "So June 2nd, I get to start up in Weyburn. The Salvation Army in Weyburn isn't going to be open up to the public quite yet, but I'm allowed to offer the counselling there."

She said people might find that in-person sessions are going to look a litle different than before the current times, including a COVID-19 screener that offers an option for a phone session to anyone who answered yes to any of the questions.

"People can either come in person or over the phone, and if they do come in person, they'll be asked to wear a mask," said Smeltzer, noting they are able to supply individually wrapped masks to those who need them.

Call-in Counselling will still remain available to anyone who wants it, and Smeltzer said there have been a possibly larger number of rural callers as a result of having this option in place over the past two months.

While more taking advantage of call-in counselling is a plus, there's nothing quite like face-to-face conversation.

"I do miss being able to look at and read peoples body language, because sometimes words are hard," she shared. "And sometimes it's just holding that space, and understanding that pause is just, they needed a second to maybe cry, or they need a second to think about what the next thing they want to say or where they want to take the session to."

Smeltzer said, as a counsellor, what her callers have been sharing has been encouraging. This is due, in particular, to how people have been using creativity to cope with the times.

"So the drawing, the colouring, the sculpting, the painting, the pottery," she listed. "Creativity can also be wood work, it can be home reno projects, it can be decluttering the space that's been put on hold because everything's been so busy."

Other ways some have been coping include having a social distance bonfire, or even going for a walk or bike ride.

While social supports like walk-in counselling are in place, as are different service providers in the community, Smeltzer noted that people need to take advantage of their natural supports.

"Those friends and those family members that you really trust, and you know that when you're having a bad day, that's the person you call," she explained. "Or when you just feel really lonely, and you need to feel some type of connection, as much as you might want to isolate more, trying to reach out to someone that you know is going to show up for you."

She said another great way she has found to combat the nagging fears, doubts, and worries, is through practicing gratitude.

"It's not always easy in the moment, when we're in a difficult space, whether that be high anxiety or experiencing a lot of stuff all at once, or a really low, sad day, or weeks, months. Is there one thing, even if it's just one thing we can find that we're thankful for?"

The new normal may include a lot more phone sessions, but throughout these challenging times, the human spirit has impressed upon Smeltzer, who loves her job.

"It's really a beautiful experience to be trusted with peoples' vulnerability every day," she shared. "Even if it's a grain of resiliency, it matters. Trying, at the end of the day, is all that matters. Because it can be a constant battle, depending on where that person is at."

"People are very brave and couragous," she added.

Read more about the Walk-In Counselling options in the southeast HERE.