Understanding Telehealth

Teletherapy is the delivery of counseling ​services using secure internet technology and ​other electronic means including ​videoconferencing, audio and other forms of ​electronic communication where the therapist ​and client are not in the same physical ​location.

Telehealth services are similar to traditional ​in-person therapy and will largely consist of ​the same approaches and interventions; ​however you and your therapist will hear and ​see each other via electronic means. Similar ​to in-person services, your therapist will ​provide services in a private, confidential ​setting that is free from distractions.

Participating in telehealth services is optional. You have the right to withdraw your consent to the use of ​teletherapy during the course of your care at any time and opt to use in-person services instead. You and your ​therapist will regularly assess the appropriateness of continuing telehealth services as it may not be suitable in a ​particular situation. In such cases, your therapist will discuss this with you and offer alternative forms of treatment ​and referrals when needed.

It is a legal requirement for mental health professionals to practice in the state in which they are licensed. As such, ​you acknowledge that you are a resident of California and agree that when

you participate in teletherapy sessions, you will be physically present in California, and/or any

other state(s) that your therapist is licensed. You agree to inform your therapist if you are not

present in California or another state(s) where my therapist is licensed.

Benefits and risks of participation:

Participating in telehealth sessions allows for convenient and accessible psychological services when they would ​not be otherwise available including improved access to services anywhere, at any time allowing for more ​immediate and timely care, and can provide a more comfortable space with greater flexibility in location and ​time.

The following are possible risks of participating in telehealth services:

• There may be a possibility of misunderstandings and miscommunication due to the absence of non-verbal/facial ​cues in the therapeutic interaction that would normally occur at an in-person session. In addition, it may hinder your ​therapist's ability to conduct a comprehensive clinical assessment and diagnosis. It may also be more difficult for ​your therapist to understand your concerns and offer appropriate intervention. If you ever have concerns about ​misunderstandings between you and your therapist, please bring up such concerns with your therapist immediately ​to address the issues together.

•Emotional reactions such as frustration and confusion may arise related to technical difficulties and failures that ​may arise during the teletherapy session. Such interruptions can be disruptive to the session especially when ​processing difficult experiences.

• Online therapy may not be suitable for all clients, clinical conditions, psychiatric disorders.

• Although precautions are taken to ensure that the information transmitted electronically is secure, the possibility ​exists that there could be a breach of confidential information due to unsecured websites and unencrypted ​communication tools.

• There is a risk of being overheard by anyone near you while participating in telehealth.

What to expect in your telehealth sessions:

To mitigate the risks noted above, you can expect the following to occur during your telehealth session:

1.Physical Environment

To reduce the risk of being overheard by anyone near you during a teletherapy session, you must take steps to ​ensure that you are in a private setting; for example, making sure doors and windows are closed. In addition, you ​will want to reduce distractions and intrusions from others during the session. Please make arrangements for minor ​children to be watched after if they are in the home. Please inform your therapist if another party other than ​yourself is present during the session.

2.Appropriate Etiquette:

While teletherapy may be regarded as more casual than in-person sessions, the same standards and expectations ​for appropriate behavior will apply. This includes refraining from using any substances

while in session, being located in a space that is free of noise and distractions, dressing appropriately, etc. Your ​therapist reserves the right to immediately terminate any sessions that include questionable behavior and client will ​still be responsible for the session fee.

3.The use of technology:

To participate in telehealth services you will be required to utilize your personal technology

including a computer, microphone, and speakers. For your privacy, you are encouraged not to

use equipment owned by another person as information entered into another's computer cancompromise your ​privacy. You are responsible for maintaining access to, and to be familiar with theappropriate technology in order ​to participate in telehealth sessions. To help maintain confidentiality,you understand that email and text messages ​are neither secure nor acceptable means ofcommunicating with your therapist, unless for scheduling or ​administrative purposes.

Privacy:

The laws and professional standards that apply to in-person psychological services also apply to

telehealth services. As such, the information disclosed during the telehealth sessions is

Confidential. The interactive technologies used in telehealth services at The Therapy Cove arecompliant with the ​Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).

Our therapists useSimplePractice, a HIPAA compliant videoconferencing platform. SimplePractice's ​interactivevideoconferencing and electronic systems incorporate network and software security protocols ​toprotect the confidentiality of your information. These protocols include measures to safeguard thedata and to aid ​in protecting against intentional or unintentional corruption. SimplePractice'svideoconferencing technology is ​encrypted to prevent the unauthorized access to private medicalinformation.

Fees & Insurance Reimbursement:

Telehealth services are covered by most insurance companies. However, your insurance may notcover teletherapy ​sessions. If this is the case, you will be solely responsible for the entire fee for thesession. It is the responsibility of the ​client to contact insurance as soon as possible prior to yourinitial scheduled teletherapy session to determine ​whether these sessions will be covered.

Emergencies & Technology/ Interrupted Sessions:

Assessing and evaluating threats and other emergencies may prove more difficult when engaging in teletherapy ​than with traditional, in-person therapy. In order to address some of these difficulties, your therapist will ask you ​where you are located at the beginning of each session and to identify an emergency contact person to contact in ​the event of a crisis or emergency to assist in addressing the situation.

If ever the technological connection fails, and you are experiencing a crisis, please do not attempt to contact your ​therapist back; instead, please call either 911 or the emergency numbers found at 211.

Support services such as hospitals and crisis centers will be identified in your area to access in case of ​emergencies. If one of our sessions happen to cut out and you are not experiencing an emergency, please ​disconnect from the session and attempt to reconnect via the same teletherapy platform. If the problem persists, ​please contact your therapist. In the event of a device malfunction, and the technical issue cannot be resolved, you ​and your therapist may elect to complete the session via telephone or agree to reschedule your teletherapy session. ​If unable to reschedule, you will only be responsible to pay the prorated amount of the actual time spent in session ​(for self-pay clients). For insured clients, I will bill your insurance for only the amount of time we were engaged in ​the session.