Blog Elements

Half Sized Blog Element (Single Author Style)

Half Sized Blog Element (Multi Author Style)

Coping During COVID: How Life Span Counselors Help Clients

January 21, 2021/in Events, News /by JB Mantz

53% of adults in the United States reported that their mental health has been negatively impacted due to worry and stress over the coronavirus in a Kaiser Family Foundation survey conducted over the summer. We think the other 47% may have misunderstood the question. How is the Life Span counseling team helping clients to survive […]

How COVID-19 Impacts Our Clients

November 4, 2020/in Events, News /by JB Mantz

The COVID-19 pandemic has had an awful health and economic impact on our country. And survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault are no exception. COVID-19 has harmed Life Span clients in too many ways. Here are six examples shared by Life Span counselors and attorneys; client names have been changed to protect privacy. “Magdalena,” […]

Coping During COVID: How Life Span Counselors Help Clients

January 21, 2021/in Events, News /by JB Mantz

How COVID-19 Impacts Our Clients

November 4, 2020/in Events, News /by JB Mantz

Full Sized Blog Element (Big Preview Pic)

Coping During COVID: How Life Span Counselors Help Clients

January 21, 2021/in Events, News /by JB Mantz

Life Span counselors Jasmine Steele and Ginni Doshi

How is the Life Span counseling team helping clients to survive abusers during a pandemic? New counselors Ginni & Jasmine joined Life Span this summer, and might be best equipped to describe Life Span counseling.

What was it like joining Life Span during a pandemic?

Jasmine – “I was an intern at Life Span in undergrad six years ago and I knew it was somewhere I desired to be a part of when I completed my Masters in Social Work. It feels like I belong here. We somehow still manage to (digitally) see everyone’s beautiful faces every week!”

Ginni – “The pandemic has created a “New Normal” for everyone…at first I felt uncertain about my choice of starting a new job. My uncertainty quickly dissipated by the immersion and inclusion of the counseling team at Life Span. Life Span is unique and truly practices the definition of being in a world of helping people.”

How do you help clients?

Jasmine – “I am a Domestic Violence Counselor at the downtown office so I help clients with counsel, education, and processing about the abuse they are/have experienced, as well as aid them with identifying and pursuing their goals. I also host a zoom group that serves as an opportunity for clients to connect with each other in a more casual space and talk through any stressors a s well as provide support to each other.”

Ginni – “I am a Domestic Violence Counselor in Life Span’s Des Plaines office. I assist my clients to manage the stress and anxiety of leaving the abusive life and starting an unknown new life of independence. I like to find customized solutions that are sustainable for my clients in their environment.”

What do you like the most about Life Span?

Jasmine – “I like that there are so many different people from different backgrounds in one space. I love that Life Span has been intentional about that. It makes Life Span itself so resourceful.”

Ginni – “I love my colleagues – our people make it a fun place to work. I also like the mission of Life Span. Helping people believe that they can fight the intimate partner violence, Life Span gives their clients that lifeline and confidence to live life on their own terms.”

How COVID-19 Impacts Our Clients

November 4, 2020/in Events, News /by JB Mantz

The COVID-19 pandemic has had an awful health and economic impact on our country. And survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault are no exception.

COVID-19 has harmed Life Span clients in too many ways. Here are six examples shared by Life Span counselors and attorneys; client names have been changed to protect privacy.

“Magdalena,” living separately from her abuser, was self-employed, cleaning houses in Chicago’s northwest suburbs. She has not worked since March 17 and is not eligible for unemployment benefits. Family members are helping her with some expenses, and she is not sure when families will allow her back into their homes to work.

“Josie” works as an office clerk in a private high school, one that is physically open for students. But her children are doing remote learning, so she took COVID family leave, and is now receiving just a fraction of her prior salary.

“Wanda” works at a gym and was furloughed until last week. She is now back, albeit with reduced hours, and she worries about contracting the virus at her job. Members of her church had been helping with her expenses.

“Rebecca” had been working two part-time jobs and raising her daughters. Both jobs cut her hours, so she no longer can afford a babysitter. With no other option, she made the difficult decision to allow her abuser into her home to care for her children. At first, he was a big help, but now he has begun to make degrading comments about her to her kids

“Lynn” was receiving adequate child support from her abuser, until three months ago when he lost his job as a manager of a live music club. She now doesn’t know where to turn.

“Angie” cares for her aging grandmother in her apartment, and shares custody of her two children with her abuser. She feels her abuser’s behavior is reckless – inviting large groups of friends over and not wearing masks in public, and is worried that he’ll expose the kids to COVID-19, who then may expose her grandmother.

Thank you for supporting our survivors.