Dr. Arie Zakaryan '03
Since the COVID-19 pandemic, so much of my outpatient care has gone from in-person appointments to holding almost all of my visits via teletherapy. However, I also still go inpatient into the hospital – so those inpatient responsibilities have mostly changed in trying to be more careful on any forms of transmission.
1. Full Name: Arie Zakaryan, PhD
2. Class Year: Class of 2003
3. Job Title: Pediatric Psychologist on the Pain Management Service
4. Employer: Phoenix Children's Hospital
5. Years worked in this industry (If applicable): 3 years independently licensed (about 9 years total including supervised postdoctoral fellowship, internship, and practica) 6. How has your role and your day to day responsibilities changed since the COVID-19 Pandemic?
Since the COVID-19 pandemic, so much of my outpatient care has gone from in-person appointments to holding almost all my of my visits via teletherapy. However, I also still go inpatient into the hospital – so those inpatient responsibilities have mostly changed in trying to be more careful on any forms of transmission: now wearing masks universally (and surgical masks for patient care) as well as ideally prioritizing the order we might see patients, from most vulnerable to least vulnerable, to hopefully minimize any spread of germs.
Not only are we trying to advance with technology through the use of teletherapy, but as a department and a hospital, we are trying to develop content to help patients and families learn more about up-to-date research and information through blogs, Twitter, and other avenues. These topics range from grief/loss to talking to children about the protests and racism to helping children deal with the stressful procedure of COVID-19 swab testing.
7. What are some of the challenges you and your colleagues are facing due to the pandemic?
8. With this shift in your personal and professional life, how are you practicing self-care?
I try to practice self-care by bringing in movement to the day, by either choosing the stairs at work, going for a run, or just having my own personal dance party at home to shake out the stress of the day. I like taking time to sit on my patio, even for 5-10 minutes to watch the sunset or have a meal. I also try to not be too hard on myself for “not doing enough” or “not helping enough” during these difficult times.
9. What advice or words of wisdom would you like to give to our Spartan community?
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2. Class Year: Class of 2003
3. Job Title: Pediatric Psychologist on the Pain Management Service
4. Employer: Phoenix Children's Hospital
5. Years worked in this industry (If applicable): 3 years independently licensed (about 9 years total including supervised postdoctoral fellowship, internship, and practica)
Since the COVID-19 pandemic, so much of my outpatient care has gone from in-person appointments to holding almost all my of my visits via teletherapy. However, I also still go inpatient into the hospital – so those inpatient responsibilities have mostly changed in trying to be more careful on any forms of transmission: now wearing masks universally (and surgical masks for patient care) as well as ideally prioritizing the order we might see patients, from most vulnerable to least vulnerable, to hopefully minimize any spread of germs.
Not only are we trying to advance with technology through the use of teletherapy, but as a department and a hospital, we are trying to develop content to help patients and families learn more about up-to-date research and information through blogs, Twitter, and other avenues. These topics range from grief/loss to talking to children about the protests and racism to helping children deal with the stressful procedure of COVID-19 swab testing.
7. What are some of the challenges you and your colleagues are facing due to the pandemic?
One challenge has just been the logistics of video appointments and how to create protocols in order to protect patient’s confidential information in the advent of technology, as well as how to plan to keep them safe in case of any suicidal or homicidal emergencies. Another challenge is developing that therapeutic rapport (but not impossible!) either via video appointments or behind a mask vs. either being in-person or being able to see my facial expressions.
Zoom fatigue is real! Especially with back-to-back video appointments sitting in your chair. I think for other colleagues who are solely outpatient, they are working from home. They face additional challenges of “isolation” from coworkers compared to seeing one another in the hallway at the office. And many of them are not only being a psychologist conducting therapy, but like many others across the globe: being a parent, a teacher, and so many other roles, which is daunting.
Another significant challenge is helping patients/families navigate not only the trauma of COVID-19 and the related grief/loss (ranging from losing loved ones, losing their senior year, losing summer/time with friends) as well as processing all the racial tensions occurring and the division in the country. Regardless, my patients continue to impress me with their resilience and adaptation to these significant stressors.
8. With this shift in your personal and professional life, how are you practicing self-care?
I try to practice self-care by bringing in movement to the day, by either choosing the stairs at work, going for a run, or just having my own personal dance party at home to shake out the stress of the day. I like taking time to sit on my patio, even for 5-10 minutes to watch the sunset or have a meal. I also try to not be too hard on myself for “not doing enough” or “not helping enough” during these difficult times.
9. What advice or words of wisdom would you like to give to our Spartan community?
Take things one day, or even one minute, at a time. I’m not sure who I can attribute this to, but I found these six steps to reflect upon helpful:
What am I GRATEFUL for today?
Who am I CHECKING IN ON or CONNECTING WITH today?
What expectations of “normal” am I LETTING GO OF today?
How am I GETTING OUTSIDE today?
How am I MOVING MY BODY today?
What BEAUTY am I creating, cultivating or inviting in today?
I would also echo the sentiments of my classmate, Dr. Robert Grossman – remember this (whether COVID-19 pandemic or anti-racism movement) is a marathon and not a sprint. Research your sources and listen to the respective experts out there. Wear a mask, wash your hands, as well as hold others accountable while being kind to one another!
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