Staying Connected When Social Distancing: A Telehealth Primer
Photo by Sarah Gualtieri on Unsplash
In light of recent school closures, and in an abundance of care for our community, we've made the decision to temporarily close our physical offices and move all of our sessions to telehealth (online video chat or phone call) until further notice. But practicing social distancing doesn’t mean we have to sacrifice connection. Here we will outline the options available to our clients and help you feel comfortable and confident navigating this technology. We are so grateful to have these options to continue to serve our community while also following best practices for keeping each other safe.
Our Options for Telehealth are HIPAA-compliant and Include:
Spruce Health App (Smart phone only)
This is our phone service and the app is easy to navigate once you’ve created an account. Your therapist will invite you via text message to create an account by entering your name, number, DOB and sex. You can download the app in the App Store or in Google Play. You can also read this helpful how-to article if you need support adjusting your settings. Your therapist will video call you in the app at the appointment time.
Google Hangouts Meet (in App Store as Meet) (Smartphone or Web Browser-not Internet Explorer)
Your therapist will send you a link to join a video meeting by text or email at the time of your appointment. You do not need a google or gmail account if you login on your computer web browser (it is not compatible with Internet Explorer). To use the app on your phone, you’ll need a google or gmail account. This article walks you through any troubleshooting needs.
Doxy.me (Smartphone or Web Browser)
Your therapist will email or text you a direct link to their virtual waiting room. No sign-up is required.
For therapy groups and work with families who may not share physical space, we will use Google Hangouts Meet. Your therapist will send all participants a link to join the group session. At this time, our next groups are set to begin after spring break. At this time, all groups will move forward online for as long as necessary. Your therapist will discuss this with you in the coming weeks. New members may still register for upcoming online groups.
*All options are free for clients
Considerations to Create a Comfortable and Confidential Telehealth Session
Make sure you will have internet access at the time of the appointment (if you do not have reliable internet, let’s meet by phone!)
Get onto your phone, laptop, or tablet a few minutes prior to the session so you have time to log in and make sure audio/visual is working
Be mindful of the location you are at for the session so that you have an optimal space that suits your needs for comfort and privacy (planning ahead with people who might be in close proximity during the time of the session may help as well as thinking about places for you to be with your device).
Whenever possible, practice some self-care by preparing a cup of tea, having some tissues handy, snuggling under your favorite blanket, having a journal handy, or whatever other small comforts will enhance your experience. Treat this time (and your self) as special and, if possible, allow yourself space to be free from distractions.
If we run into technical difficulties, our backup plan will always be a phone call. The most important thing is for us to connect; the medium is a distant second.
Setting Up a Telehealth Session
Current clients who have existing appointments will automatically have those appointments converted to telehealth sessions. Your therapist will be in touch directly to discuss which mode of telehealth is best for your needs. You can also schedule new appointments directly with your therapist.
New clients can schedule an initial telehealth appointment by contacting us here. We are unrolling online booking for initial appointments in April. For now, this form will let us find the best fit for you.
*We are only able to offer telehealth in Texas at this time. We are out of network providers and we do not yet know if Texas will legislate that insurance providers must cover telehealth during this crisis, although we are hopeful that will happen. If you submit for OON reimbursement, be sure to contact your provider to determine if they will cover telesessions by phone and video. We will advocate for all services to be considered covered during this time.
Telehealth With Kids
There are some incredible resources for working with kids using telehealth. After all, this is a medium that most kids are already super skilled at using! Our therapists have been shoring up our collective knowledge bank to maximize our time providing telehealth with kids, teens and families. It may look and feel different than an in-person session, but it may surprise you how easy it is to keep therapeutic work going online. We can play games, use shared-screen technology, do artwork together, practice mindfulness through guided meditation, dance & move our bodies together, hold parent check-ins and do shorter sessions to keep little minds engaged.
But is Telehealth Worth It?
We have been fans of telehealth for a long time. It’s great for working folx who can’t get away from the office. For at-home parents who can’t get childcare. For students on break, or who want to minimize missed class time. For anyone with impaired mobility. The list goes on! But this is different, isn’t it. We weren’t expecting this sudden and complete reliance on technology for therapy. We are reeling from this rapid development too. So we adapt as best we can. We take what we know to be true and apply it in new ways: that therapuetic connection and staying in relationship is critical for our people. That we believe in our ability to navigate these new waters together, and that we are better when we stay connected. We believe that as much as we value the deep in-person connections we make with you, that our relationships transcend proximity.
We will update this blog as new options or helpful articles become available to support this temporary telehealth experience. We are working hard to support continuity for our clients and we are also walking through this experience in real time with you. Whatever your feelings are, they are valid, and you have support a phone call or app away. If you have barriers to using telehealth, talk with us about them so we can problem solve together. We are with you even when we are physically separated. From our team to your family, we send you peace, love and hope.