In light of the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) pandemic, Step By Step Counseling has been offering virtual services through a HIPAA-compliant platform. We made this decision to reduce the likelihood of the virus’s spread as well as protect our clinicians and clients who were part of the vulnerable or at-risk populations. Our number one priority is the health and well-being of our community.
We understand the past year has been a tough couple of years for many families. We are happy to announce that we have been successfully opening our office, while also continuing to offer telehealth sessions. We have pulled requirements from our liability insurance, the county health department, and the CDC. We will continue to review the recommendations of public health officials and follow regulations as long as it’s recommended. We have strategically put safety procedures in place to protect the health and wellness of both our clients and our clinicians. We want to assure all of our clients and future clients that we are doing everything we can to provide quality services and make appropriate adjustments to our previous systems.
Our plan is to be proactive and strategic. The staff at Step By Step Counseling will use these guidelines as the minimum standard for in-person counseling services. For your safety and the safety of our staff and community, clients must comply with all measures and protocols in order to receive in-person services at Step By Step Counseling. These protocols are subject to change based on the best information we have from those health officials. Below, find what you can expect from us, and also what will be required of all clients attending in-person sessions.
What you can expect from our office:
- Common areas will be closed
- On-site screening questions for employees ensure they are fever and symptom-free
- Hand sanitizer will be available
- Disinfection procedures followed daily
- The therapist’s offices will be sanitized before every session
- Employees will be required to stay home and conduct telehealth sessions if they are ill, or if someone in their house is ill.
- Therapists will encourage telehealth as an option
What we expect or ask of clients:
- Patience with some of our clinicians. In-person visits may not be available for every therapist of Step By Step Counseling, due to their personal needs.
- Clients will call ahead if they have symptoms (including allergies) to switch appointments from in-person to telehealth
- Clients must wait in their car until the therapist opens the front door at the start of their session. Only client is to approach the building for their session.
- Please leave unnecessary items in your vehicle or at home (bags, blankets, toys, etc)
- Only the client is allowed to enter the building.
- Non-client visitors will NOT be allowed in the building.
- If a client is unable to enter the building, the client can participate in therapy via telehealth
Everyone is telehealth
Step By Step Counseling Phase 1 – June 2020-October2020
- Step By Step Counseling
- All Covid-19 accommodations in place
- A limited number of therapists and clients in the building (25% of normal traffic flow)
- Stagged appointment times to avoid multiple people in public areas at the same time
- No in-person group therapy
- Clinicians
- Must sign a release indicating that they are not a vulnerable person and that they do not live with someone in their household who is a vulnerable person
- Must adhere to limited time in office, 1/2 day or 1 day a week
- Encourage telehealth for most clients
- Clients
- Must sign a release indicating that they are not a vulnerable person and that they do not live with someone in their household who’s a vulnerable person.
- Must understand that in-person services are high-risk
Step By Step Counseling Phase 2- October 2020-April 2021
- Step By Step Counseling
- All Covid-19 accommodations in place
- A limited number of therapists and clients in the building (40% of normal traffic flow)
- Continue to stagger appointment times to avoid multiple people in public areas at the same time
- Clinicians:
- Must sign a release indicating that they are not a vulnerable or high-risk person
- Continue to encourage telehealth if possible
- Clients:
- Must sign a release indicating that they are not a vulnerable person or high risk person
- Must understand that in-person services are high risk
Step By Step Counseling Phase 3 – April 2021 – May 2022
- Step By Step Counseling
- All Covid-19 accommodations in place
- A limited number of therapists and clients in the building (60% of normal traffic flow)
- Continue to stagger appointment times to avoid multiple people in public areas at the same time
- Clinicians:
- Continue to encourage telehealth sessions
- Clients:
- Must sign a release
- Must understand that in-person services are high-risk
Step By Step Counseling Phase 4
- Therapists and clients in the building (85% of normal traffic flow)
- Continue to stagger appointment times to avoid multiple people in public areas at the same time
- The waiting room continues to be closed
- Masks will continue to be worn during sessions
- Will rely on recommendations to determine what safe practices will look like.
Step By Step Counseling Phase 5 – Currently at this phase
- Therapists and clients in the building (100% of normal traffic flow)
- Continue to stagger appointment times
- No visitors or waiting rooms
- Will rely on recommendations to determine what safe practices will look like.
Per the CDC guidance, therapists and clients are in close contact for a prolonged period of time. Counseling is a high risk activity for the transmission of contagious diseases. Due to the long incubation period of contagious viruses, as well as the reality that an individual may be a carrier of the virus without any symptoms or awareness, face-to-face contact with any other member of the community increases risk of transmission of the virus.
Reasons that might be appropriate for in-person sessions:
- The client has safety concerns
- The client has privacy issues
- The client needs a higher level of care (Suicidal ideation, age or diagnosis makes telehealth difficult)
- The client has technology issues (no device, poor internet, etc)
- The therapy modality used with the client is best served in person (EMDR)
- The client’s insurance does not cover telehealth
Please be aware that clinician schedules have changed in the past 3 years. Previous appointment times may look different. Over the past 3 years, our clinicians’ schedules have been shifting and if you had chosen not to utilize telehealth and postponed treatment your therapist may have filled your open spot with another client.
Currently, most of our adolescent and adult clients are hybrid, they offer some virtual options and some in-person options.
Uneasiness:
We understand if these policies make our clients feel uncomfortable or uneasy. That is not our intent.
Step By Step Counseling will continue to provide individual, couples, and family therapy via a telehealth platform. Please visit here to learn more: Telehealth
Our office also offers the Parent Hub to help support parents and caregivers if counseling or therapy is not an option.
Final words:
We strongly suggest that clients continue to use telehealth for therapy services and that in-person sessions be used for clients with whom telehealth is not possible or suggested, such as clients with privacy or safety issues, clients who receive therapy by certain modalities that are not conducive to telehealth, and clients who need a higher level of care. By choosing in-person sessions over telehealth, you recognize the increased risk of contracting the virus in the office and accept that risk.
As states and communities begin to reopen and lift restrictions it’s important to plan & implement policies that protect both clinicians and clients. The COVID-19 virus is serious, but it has now brought to light how easily we transmit contagious diseases. Our office will do our best to comply with Federal, State, and Local Guidelines. All entities have created guidelines for reopening businesses and reducing the spread of Covid-19.
RESOURCES FOR KIDS
CoronaVirus Socal Story
http://tiny.cc/rzu9qz