We often believe that those in the mental health profession are essentially bulletproof as far as anxiety matters are concerned. But with recent COVID-19 developments, it is clear that such individuals are just as human as the rest of us, at the mercy of the same preoccupations which keep us all up at night.
For Rachel George, Head of Student Support and a counselor at Yew Chung International School Beijing (YCIS Beijing), it is no different. When this avowed Beijinger first arrived in the Capital, she foresaw a bright future full of never-ending Spring flowers and sunny days. But COVID-19 has proven to be a cloud in her life which won’t go away.
In true Beijinger fashion, however, she refuses to give into the sensationalism of the moment, and although she’s currently hunkered down in her native America, the distance has only made her heart grow fonder.
Ms. Rachel George
Please introduce yourself! How long have you been in Beijing? Where are you from? What do you do? Etc.
Seems like I have been here forever, but technically I am on year one [and]six months. Originally from the States, Texas. I am Head of Student Support and school counselor at the Yew Chung International School Beijing (YCIS Beijing).
When you first heard about the outbreak, what were your thoughts?
When I first heard about the outbreak, I thought, ‘OK, Wuhan is far away. Nothing really to worry about’. I did not take it seriously until we received a notice from school that we would be closed for an additional two weeks. That’s when I decided it was time for me to turn on the news and start paying attention.
You narrowly escaped self-quarantine cabin fever. But is it all chips and gravy?
I decided shortly after the news from school that I would leave. My friends were going home to Ireland and asked if I wanted to come. So, I packed a bag which I thought would be for a week, which was now over a month ago. So although I didn’t have cabin fever, I called it “suitcase fever”. Hopping from place to place and living primarily out of a suitcase weeks on end can be unsettling. I also needed to work on Beijing time, 8am to 4pm, which meant being awake all night due to the time differences. So, I ended up sleepy and wearing the same outfits for a month! It was then I decided to go home to my parents in America.
What’s it like working remotely and being miles away from Beijing?
Now that I am back in the US, it is a 14-hour time difference, I work nights while the house sleeps. I am finding it quite relaxing really! However, when I am not meeting with students or conferencing with parents, I am researching and preparing lessons on trauma for when we return, writing up tips for parents, coordinating with other counselors in the Beijing area, planning staff professional developments. I work all day, too. When I had a normal routine, there was a time where I was “off work,” now I work all the time.
How different are your online sessions with students versus how you would work with them offline?
Online counseling inserts a barrier of sorts into the counseling relationship. When I work with students face-to-face, I am able to pick up on non-verbal cues and the overall feelings or vibe in the room. Meeting with students online takes this away. However, I have found that it benefits my adolescent students as chatting with my secondary students online has been quite productive.
Sometimes, a face-to-face meeting can be uncomfortable or awkward for students of this age. However, the online barrier makes it easier for them to just type, without the eye contact. Online counseling can also bring about numerous ethical concerns, specifically privacy, and duty of care. I ensure my sessions with students are private, which typically means going to a quiet, private space in my home. One time it was the closet as this was the only place someone else would not hear me.
Unfortunately, I am not able to attend immediately to a student that is exhibiting any signs of distress. This is a concern involving my duty of care to my students. I maintain contact with parents and debrief with them if I feel my student needs additional support at home. I also encourage the student to speak with their parents or other trusted adults when I am not available, making sure they always have someone to connect with.
While away, what is it that you miss most that is authentically Beijing?
I miss the convenience of China and how simple my life is in Beijing. I miss my sweet neighbor who gives me flowers when I see him, I wonder if he is safe and healthy. And I miss Annie’s (restaurant) lasagna.
Has self-reflecting at this time unearthed something you were not fully cognizant of before?
I have discovered that China is where I feel at home. As much as I love my family and friends – and being able to spend unexpected time with them is wonderful – my life, my home is Beijing. I have also discovered how passionate I am about living in China. Seems like the media has unfortunately made some people paranoid about an entire group of people. I am finding myself butting into conversations and correcting them, stating proudly that I live there and telling people the truth behind what they see or hear in the media.
As someone who takes care of other people’s mental health, how have you been able to maintain your sanity through this COVID-19 ordeal?
Firstly, I do not watch the news. While this may be deemed irresponsible, for me it is a way of maintaining a firm boundary. In order for me to provide support to my students and families, it is important for me to remain in a place of positivity, consciously ignoring mainstream media allows me to do this. My current self-care routine has involved lots of mindless coloring, there are some amazing coloring books for adults out there, along with working out and reading.
What is your advice for Beijing families and students on how to come out of this better and stronger?
As with anything, it is important to remember your ‘why’, especially in a time like this. As expats, it is helpful to remember all of the wonderful reasons why we love Beijing. Why we became an expat family. Why we love our friends and our children’s school. Focusing more on the ‘why’ eradicates negativity and brings us back to center. Be purposeful with your time, it is very easy to get caught up with the wonderings. Wondering when school will reopen, wondering when the stores will be back to normal business hours, etc. The more we wonder, the more we miss out on what is happening in the moment. Use this time at home with your family as a gift, not only to spend more quality time with each other, but to do some soul searching, cleaning, reorganizing, dreaming, planning, creating. Time is a gift. Maximize the moment.
What’s top on your to-do list upon your return to Beijing?
I plan on jumping right back in to my work. I am a planner, and I know getting back to a state of normalcy after such a disruption means our entire school community will need assistance in reorienting. Collectively, we have all experienced a traumatic event, and we will need to learn how to heal together. I have spent time planning for that process and what it will look like at our school. I look most forward to my routine. I am a creature of habit, and living through uncertainty has been difficult for me. I am a Beijinger. I said from the moment I arrived that I would be here for a while, and I have no plans on changing my mind.
Photos: Courtesy of Rachel George
