After a very difficult year, we are finally in a place where we can start to have some degree of “normalcy”. Many of us are seeing friends and family again. We might be enjoying our favorite restaurants or attending concerts and sporting events. This is all thanks to three safe, highly effective vaccines that are available to all Coloradans over the age of 12. As a healthcare worker, I was fortunate enough to be one of the first people in line. I remember jumping through the hoops, making call after call only to be disappointed when every appointment was already taken up. When I found myself losing hope, I reminded myself of the reason why I was so eager to get the vaccine:
I really value in-person therapy. While I appreciate the miracles of modern technology that have allowed us to stay connected during this pandemic, I believe there is no substitute for the physical presence of a supportive provider. I have carefully followed public health recommendations and will continue to do so. If circumstances ever again dictate that Telehealth is the only safe option, then obviously, safety comes first. I hope we never have to do that again. Fortunately, there are plenty of things that we can do on our part to prevent that scenario.
Here are my current policies to help everyone stay safe:
Rules for everyone: If you are sick, stay home. Before Covid I was charging clients for missed sessions if they did not cancel within 24 hours. I still reserve the right to do that in some circumstances, but illness will not be one of them. Even if you are almost positive that your illness is a cold, please do get tested. Covid symptoms can resemble a common cold, especially among people who have received the vaccine. Don’t take chances. I will thank you for rescheduling your appointment since this keeps me, my clients and my colleagues safe. Remember, telehealth will always be a safe alternative.
Rules for unvaccinated clients: Some clients may have medical reasons why they cannot get vaccinated. Others may be hesitant due to widespread misinformation, lack of access or injection phobia. I am happy to work with clients to connect them with resources to get vaccinated, and also happy to provide tried-and-true coping mechanisms to address anxiety. (You are not alone. I hate needles too). If you have not gotten your vaccine, please continue to take extra precautions to stay safe.
- Wear a mask for the entire time you are in my office.
- Wait outside or in your car for your appointment.
- Stay 6 feet apart from others in the building.
Rules for vaccinated clients: While the vaccine provides a remarkable level of protection, even against new variants, no vaccine is 100% effective. At this time vaccinated clients may come to my office and receive counseling in much the same way as they did before Covid. Public health guidelines could change, but I am happy to say that vaccinated clients can now:
- Wait in the climate-controlled waiting room
- Benefit from touch interventions that are part of my Somatic Experiencing training
- Get hugs
- Use the teacups
- Forego wearing masks.
I only ask that you provide me with proof of vaccination. You may send me an image of your CDC vaccination card which I will upload to my HIPAA compliant system.
Finally, I want to make it clear that just because vaccinated clients can come to in-person sessions without masks doesn’t meant they have to. If you wish to continue wearing a mask to our sessions, I will wear one too. We will heal from the experience of this pandemic, slowly but surely. Pushing ourselves to go “back to normal” before we are ready can lead to setbacks in our recovery from the collective trauma of Covid. There is still a lot about this virus that we don’t know, and there is no harm in taking extra precautions.