COVID Policy Updates

Given the recent uptick in COVID cases, the below is intended to clarify my policy around telehealth and the use of masks in office.

Conditions recommending tele-health

Visiting over the computer remains the safest option for protecting against transmission or infection. I have continued to gladly offer telehealth meetings. I recommend you select this option in cases where:

  • you have recently tested positive, have symptoms of a COVID infection or even suspicions that you could carry the virus;

  • you were recently exposed to someone with a confirmed positive case;

  • you or someone you live or work with is in a high-risk group (e.g. with a fragile immune system);

  • or, you are not vaccinated and prefer not to wear a mask in session (see below).

While visiting across a computer screen seldom offers a superior experience, I’m finding that it can more than adequately facilitate our visiting. Months and months of zoom practice has made it a little more natural, and in some cases, the medium can even force a little more focus in our conversation.

Because switching away from the mental space of work or home life can be a challenge, I’d invite you to take 10 minutes before the start of our session to slow your mind down and begin reflecting on recent activities in your life and your intentions for our session.

For telehealth, I’ve started using the solution integrated in my practice management program, Simple Practice. When your appointment is configured for telehealth, you should receive an email with a link to the online appointment 10 minutes prior to starting. For more information, see this guide.

Please let me know if you have any questions about this remote visiting option.

In-office mask use

If you are choosing to visit in-person, please know you are perfectly welcome in our office. To guard our health and those of our patients, my colleague and I are asking you to keep a mask on in our waiting room and to make appropriate use of our hand sanitizer on entering/leaving.

If you have been vaccinated and are following CDC guidelines, I would defer to your preference for keeping masks on in session versus going without. I will follow your lead in whether to wear a mask (I’ll wear one, if it is your preference to wear yours).

If you have not been vaccinated and/or are not following CDC guidelines, please let me know. I respect your choice. I’ll only ask that we both wear masks in session. If this isn’t a palatable option, I’d request that we visit via telehealth.

Late cancellation waiver

I ordinarily request notification by 10a the business day prior to an appointment in order to avoid a late cancellation fee. If you find a need to cancel because you’ve recently experienced symptoms or because you’ve been exposed to someone testing positive, there will be no late cancellation fee charged.

Last updated August 16, 2021