Dear PBCP Supporter,

I hope that this message finds you well. While our current times are uncertain, we wanted to share with you how the Pro Bono Counseling Project (PBCP) has been responding and developing its resources to help ensure mental health services are available for those in need during this period:

  • PBCP shifted rapidly from staff working entirely from a physical office to have the capability to work remotely. All staff remain available via email and telephone, and our clinical team is responding to requests for counseling. As always, the best way for people who need counseling to contact us is to call the main office number at 410-825-1001.
  • As you may be aware, the field of mental health counseling is making a rapid shift to teletherapy. We are continuing to assess our volunteer clinicians’ capacity to provide services via teletherapy. If you are a current volunteer and have not completed our survey about teletherapy, please complete it here.
  • To assist with the shift to teletherapy, we have compiled resources on our website for mental health providers who are starting to offer teletherapy and we are keeping our website “news” section updated as new information is released.
  • Recognizing that clinicians are not immune from the stresses of these challenging times, a senior clinician knowledgeable and experienced in crisis/disaster mental health has offered to provide video-based group consultation to PBCP providers. More information will be sent out about this opportunity in the coming days.
  • Many clinicians and partner organizations are helping PBCP by reaching out to clinicians to volunteer with PBCP. Please, spread the word in your networks: if clinicians want to volunteer their time, they can enroll with the Pro Bono Counseling Project. Enrollment is easy—simply fill out the form on our website here. We will be holding a video-based Q&A on Thursday for those interested in enrolling. Registration is available on Eventbrite. Also, an orientation for newly enrolled volunteers will be held via video next Thursday, April 2. Click here to register.
  • Although we have suspended our onsite continuing education workshops due to the pandemic, we recognize our volunteers continue to require CEs for licensing. We will be offering online continuing education webinars to meet this need. These will be announced both on our website and directly to our volunteers via email.
  • Also, as a result of the current crisis, PBCP’s annual fundraiser, Speakers Forum, was postponed tentatively to the fall. While the event is on hold, the financial obligations of the organization remain. We still need your support – and we need it now more than ever! To help us continue to offer essential resources, please considering making an online gift here.

Thank you for all you are doing during these unprecedented times. Each one of us has a part to play in ensuring that mental health needs are met, and we appreciate all your support!

Sincerely,

Peter Kahn, MD

PBCP Board President