KERNERSVILLE, NC — More people are experiencing stress and anxiety as a result of the pandemic, leading the demand for counselors and therapists to an all-time high.

Jody Nash is a licensed counselor at her private practice, A Kaleidoscope Mind in Kernersville. She says she started seeing an increase in clients beginning in the summer of 2020.

“As humans, we are not meant to be isolated,” says Nash. “We need fresh air, and we need that conversation, and we need people to talk to. If we can’t get to our friends, our family, and our support system, then we can’t get to them.”

There’s a demand for mental health services across the nation. The National Council for Behavioral Health reports mental health organizations have seen a 52% increase in the need for services. Nash says cases of substance abuse, domestic violence, and child abuse are rising through the pandemic.

“Your mental health directly affects your physical health. So if you’re not taking care of yourself mentally, the physical stuff starts to happen,” says Nash.

Nash also says the demand for mental health counselors will keep growing in years to come. Nash’s own struggle with mental health inspired her to pursue a career in counseling. She graduated from Wake Forest University’s online graduate counseling program in 2016, where she worked with Telehealth long before the pandemic made it popular.

“I was prepared, there really wasn’t a learning curve for me,” she says.

Through this program, Nash was able to work and study, even while taking care of her son who was hospitalized. Now, she helps shape the next round of counselors as an instructor.

“I think we should all aspire to give back. Giving back to the field is really where my passion is,” she says.

For people struggling with stress and anxiety, Nash says it’s important to talk to someone, even friends or family members. Nash says people can reconnect with hobbies that bring them joy. Something as simple as coloring or journaling can help the mind.