The Covid-19 policy.

Who would have thought one year ago when we were first hearing about Covid-19 that the impact would rip through our world and lives, disturbing our routines, activities, work and friendships? 

The everyday experience of our children resulting from the pandemic has dramatically impacted their world. Many are isolated at home, working online to keep up with their schoolwork. We, as parents, have little time to supervise their learning when we are also trying to navigate our work and life. With so many activities put on hold, or canceled altogether, there is a lot of home time with everyone there and little stimulation from the outside world or respite from each other.  

You may notice your child or teen in a stuck place, discouraged about the world and their future ahead, not very excited about learning online while being kept at a distance from forming or maintaining friendships.  Your child or teen might be feeling sad or alone, lonely, or a host of other feelings. Difficult, hard to manage, or concerning behaviors could be cropping up, too.  What to do, you ask yourself?

Keeping up with the pandemic, we are encouraged by the vaccine and the drop in new cases. Yet, we are also saddened by the fact that this pandemic will likely affect our lives for some time to come. As a mental health care provider,  I can help!  I am pleased to announce that I am completing my two-part series of the vaccine and am ready to open my office on a limited basis if clients agree to follow these Coronavirus safety practices:

• Clients will notify me by text message from their car when they have arrived.  I will meet them on the front porch and take their temperature.
• Masks are required and will be worn by both clients and myself at all times when we are together. It is important that the mask fits properly and covers both the nose and mouth. Any mask worn must offer sufficient protection. The CDC presently recommends double masking and studies show it more effective in preventing the spread of infection than single masking.
• I will offer hand sanitizer before entering the building and request that all clients spend 20 seconds to apply it liberally to their hands.
• I will escort clients to my office and we will proceed with the session while practicing safe social distancing.
• When the session is over, and I have escorted the client out of the building, I will sanitize any items or surfaces the client has touched.

The building my office is housed in follows the same safety protocols as outlined above to ensure we, as helping professionals, can offer safe services to anyone who enters. The building is regularly cleaned and sanitized by cleaning professionals.