Alberta's Open for Summer Plan

By Chantal Wagner

reopening hesitancy

‘Do small things first,’ advice from local therapist as Alberta reopens

Jun 11, 2021 | 3:28 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – Alberta’s Stage 2 Open for Summer Plan is now underway.

And there’s the excitement of reopening, with events coming back and some gatherings being allowed again.

But as we re-enter this stage, there also might be feelings of hesitancy and anxiety.

Jeremy Alcorn is a clinical social worker and therapist in Medicine Hat, he says these feelings are quite normal.

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He says the best way to increase your sense of safety is by doing small things first.

And recognize that you don’t climb a ladder by leaping to the top.

“There’s a whole method of therapy that is about exposure, and it really is graduated. That is to say, as you get through one step and you feel comfortable there, then you take that next small step forward and get to a place where you feel comfortable and back to normal,” Alcorn told Chat News.

The same goes for large events when they can return.

Alcorn says to recognize that it might not feel natural to be around so many people at first and to do what you feel is comfortable, as long as that’s by following public health guidelines.

He also trusts the medical professionals who are making these public health decisions as they have the bigger picture for the province.