Telehealth counseling and psychiatric sessions are just as important as in person sessions when it comes to etiquette. The value of making sure the experience is professional online can be a challenge, but necessary for our patients and clients to see real therapeutic results. Here are some etiquette tips to make the most of your telehealth experience.
1. Find the best location possible.
· Plan to have the session in a quiet, undisturbed environment.
· Find a comfortable place to settle in. Be creative if needed; go outside or sit in your car.
· Place your device on a solid surface, with your device set at eye level directly in front.
· If using a phone for a session, again, try to sit still. Walking around can make the other viewer distracted and even nauseous.
2. Try to protect your privacy.
· In order to maintain confidentiality, inform your family members that you are in an important meeting and need to not be disturbed.
· Parents of youth receiving services are asked to respect the ability for the children and teens to receive these services without others overhearing. Inform staff your preference to speak to the provider a few minutes in the beginning or end of the session.
· Consider a headset so that at least half of the conversation cannot be overheard.
3. Limit your distractions.
· Turn off notifications on the device you are using and keep other devices out of reach.
· Other noise and visual distractions should be limited as much as possible (pets, children, potential interruptions).
4. Dress for the public.
· Clients are encouraged to dress comfortably, but in normal public attire.
5. Reconnect, if the connection is lost.
· At the beginning of your session, be sure to confirm with your therapist how you will reconnect if your session is interrupted. · Log out of all other background apps that could interfere in connecting on the platform. Updating and/or restarting your device helps also.
· While Renewed Journey team members use HIPAA compliant video platforms for telehealth services, HIPAA compliant guidelines have been loosened during this pandemic to allow for non-HIPAA compliant means of communication such Zoom, Facetime, and phone use, if necessary.
Provider Telehealth Links
Dr. Shawn Allen, MD: http://doxy.me/drallenwellness2020 VIRTUAL SESSIONS MONDAY - THURSDAY; IN PERSON OPTION ON WEDNESDAYS
Eptesam "Sam" Sufiyan, MSN, PMHNP-BC: https://doxy.me/samsufiyan IN PERSON SESSIONS TUESDAY - THURSDAY WITH A VIRTUAL OPTION
Dr. Whitney Irie, PhD: http://doxy.me/drws VIRTUAL SESSIONS ONLY
Frank Jones, LMFT: http://doxy.me/fjones VIRTUAL SESSIONS MONDAY, TUESDAY, THURSDAY; IN PERSON OPTION ON SATURDAYS
Karen Poynor, LPC, NCC, RPT: http://doxy.me/mspoynor IN PERSON ONLY TUESDAY - FRIDAY
Matt Ottenweller, LCSW, ACSW: http://doxy.me/mattosoffice VIRTUAL SESSIONS TUESDAY- THURSDAY; IN PERSON OPTION ON FRIDAYS
Msichana McDole, LPC: http://doxy.me/mcdolelpc VIRTUAL SESSIONS TUESDAY, THURSDAY, FRIDAY; IN PERSON OPTION ON SATURDAYS
Shaka Barrett, LMSW Therapist: http://doxy.me/stbarrett FRIDAY VIRTUAL SESSION ONLY SATURDAY IN PERSON
Nic Crews, LMSW Therapist: http://doxy.me/niccrews VIRTUAL TUESDAY - FRIDAY WITH IN PERSON OPTION ON TUESDAYS
Keona Terrell, MS, APC Therapist: https://doxy.me/kterrell IN PERSON TUESDAY-THURSDAY WITH VIRTUAL OPTION; FRIDAY VIRTUAL ONLY
Shanitra Camesi, LMSW Therapist: https://doxy.me/snmc VIRTUAL ONLY MONDAY - THURSDAY
Deneisha Hollis, LAPC Therapist: https://doxy.me/dlhollis IN PERSON MONDAY, TUESDAY, FRIDAY; VIRTUAL ONLY ON WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY
Regina Zabel, LCSW, ACSW: https://doxy.me/renewedjourney VIRTUAL SESSIONS ONLY
Maia Carter, MA Intern: https:doxy.me/mcarter97 IN PERSON WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY, VIRTUAL ONLY ON SATURDAY
Michelle Barnes, MSW Intern: https://doxy.me/mdbarnes VIRTUAL SESSION S ONLY
Tamika Jordan, MSW Intern: https://doxy.me/tjordan99 VIRTUAL SESSIONS ONLY