Reflections from members of the Compass community during COVID-19
News about the economic impacts of the coronavirus pandemic is everywhere. The national story focuses on the big numbers - but behind each number is a story that matters, too.
To help bring these stories to our life, we’re sharing reflections from members of the Compass community - clients, financial coaches and other front-line staff, and our supporters - as we support families to navigate the economic impacts of this pandemic.
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Letting Clients Process What They’re Going Through
Claudia Riley, Senior Financial Coach
We are living in historic times and folks are experiencing a sudden, unexpected, and difficult hardship. In my conversations with my clients, I am first and foremost taking steps as an active listener. I let them steer the conversation and honor where they're at emotionally. People are sharing their fears about the safety and wellness of their family and loved ones, and how they will remain financially secure in the face of unemployment or vastly reduced income. They are concerned about the education of their children and for the health of the local economy.
My main focus is to let my clients process what they're going through personally and acknowledge their feelings. If needed, I will direct them to specific local resources and to offer advice on specific areas of assistance, whether it's employment, food security, or health/wellness. I would like my clients to end our conversations on a positive note and in a mindset of optimism. I know that one day this will all be over and in the past and at last, we will be able to return to more traditional financial coaching as opposed to a "triage" approach.
About a week and a half ago, I had a client call me with much fear and stress in his voice. He informed me that his employer had just cut his hours by more than half and refused to lay him off entirely. He was panicking because it was April 1 and his rent was due. I offered him compassion and understanding of his terrible situation but we turned his panic around into a more proactive and positive mindset and approach. We talked about him being his own best self advocate. We agreed on a plan that he would offer open communication with his property manager about his financial situation and collaborate on a solution. We also talked about him going ahead and filing for unemployment benefits due to his vastly reduced hours and lastly we talked about food resources in his neighborhood so that his cupboards would never become bare. He ended the conversation no longer feeling like a victim of his terrible circumstance, but like someone who was going to "make the most of it.” As always, I reiterated the fact that I was always an email, phone call or text away -- to help in any way that I was able as a financial coach.
Click here to learn more about Claudia.