03/16/2020
Dear Clients,
I am thinking of you all, and I hope that this email finds you well in these uncertain times!
For the time being, I am continuing to take in-person sessions. Your well-being is my greatest concern, and that is why I am taking extra precautions to sanitize my office after each session (one of the perks to having a wipeable couch), and I only conduct in-person sessions if I am feeling well. If you are having flu-like symptoms such as a fever, cough, or shortness of breath, let me know, and we can reschedule your session or conduct a phone or video session instead.
The challenge for now is that the unfolding events are creating a greater need for many individuals for mental health support. I am grateful that I’ve been conducting regular phone and video sessions over the last couple years, and these have been an effective way to continue treatment and support. Insurances provide coverage for either of these options as telehealth services; so, your session fees would remain the same.
If you would rather have sessions from home, I can absolutely accommodate you and/or your child(ren)! The video sessions use a Skype-like platform, and it is HIPAA-compliant and secure.
IMPORTANT: To change any currently scheduled in-person appointments to phone or video sessions, please email me at info@beentherecounseling.com AND specify if you would prefer phone or video. When making future appointments, you will now see options to choose the location of your session. You will be able to select in-person in Brentwood, or video session, or a phone session.
The transition from in-person to phone or video is easy. For the phone, I will call you at the start time of the meeting. For video, my practice software, Simple Practice, will email you a link before your scheduled appointment. A few minutes before the session, click on the link, and you will be ready for the session. If you plan to use a smartphone, you will receive a prompt to download an app first.
Video or phone sessions work well for all ages including kids and their families. Just make sure you are in a private location that allows you to have the same level of concentration and openness you have in our in-person sessions (headphones work well for privacy).
I am committed to continuing care and helping you reach your therapy goals. Together we will get through this!
Also, here are a few resources which I find helpful for many of us right now:
“Talking To Your Kids” https://avivaromm.com/covid19-talking-to-kids/
A Helpful Illustration About the Virus https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2020/02/28/809580453/just-for-kids-a-comic-exploring-the-new-coronavirus
“Choice in a Time of Viral Disease” https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/choice-matters/202003/choices-in-time-viral-disease
Please let me know if you have any questions.
To all of our mental (AND physical) health!
Amy
Last night, my 5-year-old grandson excitedly told me via FaceTime video that, “Biba, my teacher told me there’s a 95% chance if coronavirus got into my body, my body would destroy it before I got sick.” Brava, I thought, smart schoolteacher, smart school talking point (he’s in a magnet schoo...
