The presence of Covid-19 in Arizona remains a significant health concern. While no cases have been connected to my office, my intent is to minimize community risk and provide a pathway for continuity of services during this time. This page will be dedicated to keeping you up-to-date with information regarding services, TeleHealth, and resources during this time.
EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY: All sessions will be transitioned to TeleHealth ONLY.
Out of an abundance of caution and concern for your health and the health of our community, all sessions will be conducted via Secure TeleHealth.
UPDATED OFFICE POLICIES RELATED TO COVID-19:
Late cancellation fees may be waived on a case-by-case basis if a result of Covid-19 outbreak. If you feel this may apply to you at any point, please contact me to discuss
In the event I become ill, more information will be provided about what services will be continued via TeleHealth, and, if services need to temporarily halt, how to receive support and care in my absence.
What is SimplePractice? SimplePractice is the online health records system I use. Your client portal, appointment reminders, documents, calendar availability, are all hosted on SimplePractice. The same will be true of telehealth sessions.
Telehealth FAQs answered by SimplePractice:
What is telehealth? Through audio and video over the internet, you can meet with your clinician on-the-go from your desktop, laptop, tablet, or mobile device (iOS or Android) - it's your choice! Telehealth allows us to connect anywhere with secure and convenient appointments that save you time and hassle. There's no need to deal with traffic when you can schedule and attend your appointments directly from a laptop or mobile device.
What equipment do I need? To participate in Telehealth appointments from your home, you will need one of the following devices:
Desktop computer with a webcam, speakers, a 2.5 GHz processor, and 4 GB of RAM OR
Laptop computer with built-in webcam and speakers, a 2.5 GHz processor, and 4 GB of RAM OR
Tablet device with built-in webcam and speakers, OR
Smartphone with at least iOS 10 or Android 6.0 (Note: To use a smartphone, you must first download Telehealth by SimplePractice - available for iOS or Android in the app store.)
You will also need an internet connection that is at least 10mbps. For optimal results, a reliable, high-speed internet connection with a bandwidth of at least 10 mbps will minimize connection issues and provide the best quality.
Existing Clients: What happens next with my already scheduled appointments? I will be reaching out to via phone and secure messaging to inform you of this temporary policy change and additional instruction forms to start utilizing TeleHealth via SimplePractice. All scheduled sessions will remain the same day and time unless otherwise requested.
Is your schedule going to be the same? Yes and no. Previously, I have only been offering weekend sessions. TeleHealth offers more flexibility and if requested, I can offer evening week-day sessions.
Will you do in-person sessions again? Yes! I can't wait to see you in person again. I fully anticipate returning to my office and "business as usual" when the community is well again.
TeleHealth feels awkward... Doing sessions over the phone or over video can feel a little awkward at first as we adjust to a new format. Usually this only lasts for the first 5 minutes of the session and then it feels just like a normal session. I have practiced in this format for some time and have found that it is just as effective and personal as in-person sessions. I am grateful we have the technology to stay connected in this way even in the midst of uncertainty and social distancing.
How should I prepare my space for a Telehealth appointment?
Identify a suitable room that is quiet, private, and free of distractions.
To keep background noise to a minimum, make sure to close any doors, shut windows, turn off the television, and keep loud pets in another room if possible. Consider hanging a “Do Not Disturb” sign on the door to avoid interruptions.
Is Telehealth private? Just like a face-to-face appointment, your Telehealth visit will be private and confidential.
Will the appointments be recorded? None of our appointments will ever be recorded or stored.
Are your fees different for telehealth? No. All service costs remain the same.
I’m a new client and I’m interested in TeleHealth. Please call me at 520-869-5605 and leave a confidential email with your name, best contact information, a brief description of what you are looking for, and indicate your interest in TeleHealth. I will return your call as soon as possible. I am accepting new clients at this time and am happy to do so via TeleHealth.
My job was affected by the outbreak and now I’m not sure I can afford therapy. Now what? Please reach out to me as soon as possible to discuss. Continuity of your services during this time is my primary concern and financial difficulties in this time will not result in a termination of services.
I have another question you didn’t answer here. Please feel free to reach out to me with any additional questions. This is a dynamic situation and as such, I may not have every answer however I will do my best to connect you to the right resources.