How are your therapists handling COVID-19?

Just learned today T and I are going to be *having therapy* by phone for the next few weeks. All of the therapists in her practice agreed to handle therapy this way due to the covid virus.

We are both in the higher risk group...several of her other clients are, too. So it’s for the best.

I called my therapist to tell her how today went and to ask what was going on and her voice message said “I am anticipating returning the week of the 23rd”

Dude she didn’t call or anything. She said she would yesterday.

They will abandon you in an emergency. Be prepared to deal with things on your own.

Saw mine today and told her I was staying home for awhile. I told her she needs to stay home, too. She agreed and told me she had already arranged cancellations with most of her clients. She has a pretty low key caseload, so only has one client who is critical, and they'll continue to meet. She doesn't do remote and isn't set up for reimbursement for anything but in person service. She said she was going to be making regular check-in calls to whoever wanted one. I said I'd be fine.

President Trump Expands Telehealth Benefits for Medicare Beneficiaries During COVID-19 Outbreak | CMS

Reading that Medicare will temporarily cover ‘telehealth’ fee reimbursement coverage for clients. Hopefully, other insurances will follow suit.

“A range of healthcare providers, such as doctors, nurse practitioners, clinical psychologists, and licensed clinical social workers, will be able to offer telehealth to Medicare beneficiaries. Beneficiaries will be able to receive telehealth services in any healthcare facility including a physician’s office, hospital, nursing home or rural health clinic, as well as from their homes.

Medicare beneficiaries will be able to receive various services through telehealth including common office visits, mental health counseling, and preventive health screenings. This will help ensure Medicare beneficiaries, who are at a higher risk for COVID-19, are able to visit with their doctor from their home, without having to go to a doctor’s office or hospital which puts themselves or others at risk. “

My T is doing sessions online for two weeks because she was in the Seattle area during spring break. I'm disappointed but understand the need for caution.

I don't know about your therapist's setup, but I have only one place to sit and that is where all her other clients sit. The virus remains viable in the air for up to 3 hours. And the therapist would be walking through that air, so even if a client who was sick didn't come in on the same day as me, the therapist would probably catch it since we have no immunity to this virus, and then I'd get it* from her since she doesn't remain fixed in her chair and continues breathing when she walks through her office. And I don't think anybody is sanitizing all the doorknobs all the time. Oh and I also have to walk through reception and sit there for a bit, and who knows how many other people will have sat there.

I had the flu or something in February and I'm pretty sure I got it from that office and most likely from the therapist herself. There was one other time when we both got colds at the same time and I think she gave it to me or me to her.

*If I don't have it already. I have a fever and I was coughing a bit earlier. The therapist coughed all over me last Thursday, but I thought it was allergies.

He's definitely doing telehealth now because he mentioned today that it's taking some getting used to, but we're still meeting in person. I should have asked him what percentage have moved to telehealth vs in-person vs cancelling outright.

Saw Info via Zoom. She's going all remote next week (her husband has heart disease and is therefore at greater risk).

I mailed her a check for payment--I paid for next session too in two weeks in case she's having a bunch of cancellations and needs more overhead.

I just found out today that my eating disorder/trauma therapist is only doing phone calls. And because of billing, they are 25-30 minutes only. And they have to be at least 7 days apart. I'm crushed. We just started working on some trauma stuff and I'm experiencing a lot of body memories and stuff. She doesn't want to touch that right now because she can't see me, 30 minute sessions aren't long enough, and she can't support me in between sessions.

Actually, I'm not crushed. I'm lost. I'm hurt. I feel so alone.

I asked Dr. T how he'd be handling payment if he switched to video sessions with me, like would he just take my credit card number via video? He kinda shrugged, and said he didn't know, that he'd just invoice me. Which...does that mean I'd need to mail a check? He's already done Zoom with at least one other client, so how is he handling that?

I just read off my credit card number for my co-pay today. It's going to be annoying to do that every time. Liz is kind of meticulous and systematic, so I bet she'll have online invoices/payments up and running. I'll find out on Friday...

I have my first healthnet session with my therapist tomorrow. She is self-quarantining since she is in a high risk group. I could tell by her text to me she's concerned about becoming infected. I feel like I should be reassuring her right now. Role reversal. It's never happened between us before. Anyone else feeling a need to role reverse?

I think that is kind of negligent on you therapists part. There are HIPPA compliant platforms out there for her to do full session videos with. If she can do a phone call then she can do facetime for a full hour. Theletherapy has been approved for a while now as my T has been advertising it since last year.

This may be a dumb question, but I don't really have experience using Zoom and Facetime. Is there any advantage to using one vs. the other? (I have a Macbook and iPhone, so Facetime is fine with me.) I tried to do a Zoom meeting with a committee I'm on the other evening and had some technical difficulties (couldn't hear the audio through my computer, so had to call in via phone). Whereas I think Facetime should be fine. So I'm more inclined to use that. But is there any major difference in functionality if it's just two people talking? (as opposed to a meeting with a bunch of people, which I think Zoom is more designed for.)

One difference is that Zoom can be configured to be HIPAA-compliant, but FaceTime cannot.

Ah, OK, thanks!

Attempting Zoom with Dr. T tomorrow. I asked for Facetime via computer (I have a Macbook), and he said he doesn't know how to do Facetime through computer, just phone to phone (don't think he has a Mac, but think you can still get app), so asked that we do Zoom. So I said I'd give it a try. I do still have the option to meet in person, but I'm getting increasingly nervous about that the more news I hear (plus was out today a bit adopting guinea pigs), so figure I'll give this a try.

I'm going to attempt Vsee with L tomorrow. I'm really nervous! I hate video, but I want to see her. She did suggest putting a post-it over the video you see of yourself as many people find it distracting. I'm definitely going to be doing that.

Oh, that's a good idea, thanks! I think that's a big part of why I tend not to like video chats/meetings. I don't like watching myself. I hope it goes well with her.

After asking my T, I learned my clinic offers remote (video call) sessions. They would cost the same as in-person ones. But at home, I lack privacy - conversation can be easily heard from rooms even with the doors closed. Not sure what to do. I also have a cold.. if it doesn't ease up, I'll have to avoid going to the clinic for awhile. I don't want to spread my cold (or worst-case scenario, it turns out to be covid-19).

If we get a shut down order my T will do sessions by Skype or Zoom, but she prefers face to face. (As do I).

The therapist is now offering remote video appointments through Simple Practice. I don't think many people are utilizing it yet, but C did yesterday since we have a fever. It was fine. I don't mind but I don't think the therapist likes it.

I don't know, but most invoices you get in the mail have a place to enter your credit card information if that's how you want to pay. Many also have a web link where you can pay online. It really depends on what system he is using to manage his billing.

Thanks, I usually just pay in the office, and he sends me the invoice with "Paid" marked on it. So we'll see! Just don't want to have to spend 5 minutes on billing, and reading him my credit card # feels really awkward. I was thinking I need to take one into the room with me, but I have one memorized (including Exp. date and CVV), so should be good.

You don't do online banking in the US? They give you a bank account number and you transfer money into it?? No physical stuff involved?