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To Our Valued Clients,
As we continue to monitor the spread of COVID-19 (Novel Coronavirus) and its effects,. The Joshua Generation, LLC is committed to the safety of all of its clients and staff. My hope is that our staff can support you, and give you some guidance, regarding these uncertain times. You may not be aware, Joshua Generation offers sessions via videoconferencing, or TeleMental Health. We are also notifying you of this option with the intention to do our part in protecting your health while responding proportionately to the actual risk. Our goal is to reduce the chances of spreading this highly contagious illness.
When it comes to therapy, we are fortunate to have the option of switching to video sessions if that’s preferable, so that sessions can continue even when it is not advisable to meet in person. If you would prefer video sessions instead of coming in, even if you are not having symptoms, we can absolutely arrange for this. Let us know, so we may support you in any way possible, including answering all the questions you might have about TeleMental Health.
If this is the avenue we choose to continue treatment, we will troubleshoot together, and we will do my best to provide you with tutorials and walk-throughs so that you can feel comfortable accessing us via video conferencing. More businesses are transitioning online (not just therapists, but speech therapists, occupational therapists, schools, etc.), we will experience more glitches then what is normal, due to system overload. Our video-feed may crash, the image will be grainy, and load-times will be slow. Please do not judge your experience with online therapy while we are in unprecedented territory. We will tackle this together mindfully, patiently, and openly.
When it comes to understanding the necessary precautions and this virus, I ask that you keep your eyes on the science. Not only will you have more accurate information, but it will also keep your emotions at more manageable levels. For the most up to date and accurate information about the virus, follow the CDC and World Health Organization. I also encourage you to follow their steps regarding the prevention of spreading the virus.
● Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after you have been in a public place, after blowing your nose, coughing, sneezing, before preparing and eating a meal, and after using the bathroom.
● If soap and water aren’t available, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol. Cover all surfaces of your hands and rub them together until the sanitizer feels dry.
● Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
● Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze, or use the inside of your elbow.
● Immediately throw used tissues in the trash
● Stay home if you’re sick, except to get medical care.
● Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces, including door knobs, light switches, countertops, handles, desks, phones, keyboards, toilets, faucets, and sinks.
If you wish to continue sessions in person, please note that the current precautions we are taking include:
● Discontinuing certain forms of physical communication: handshakes, hugging, or other forms of physical contact for the duration of the outbreak. Though these may have been our usual forms of greeting, we will have to put them on pause to keep each other safe. Know that this does not mean the care we have for our therapeutic relationship has changed or lessened because of the lack of physical communication.
● Cleaning and disinfecting frequently touched surfaces before and after each session. Again, this is a necessary precaution to keep each other safe and in no way a comment or remark on your hygiene. The goal is to be as thorough as possible.
There are certain commitments we need from you to ensure that we are all safe:
● If you are sick, do not come to in-person sessions. If you have a fever, I’d ask that you do not come to the office until your temperature has stayed below 100.4 degrees for 24 hours or more, without the help of fever-reducing or other symptom-altering medicine – this is in accordance with CDC recommendations. Arrangements for video sessions can be made in this scenario.
● If you travel abroad (or any areas within the US that were deemed at-risk for local transmission in the future), please inform me before your session, so that we can make a decision about meeting in-person or switching to alternative options for two weeks.
● Canceling in-person or teletherapy sessions because you are not feeling well is encouraged. If cancelations are less than 24 hours, depending on the circumstances, we may waive our usual cancelation fees. As larger organizations, from Disney, NBA, San Diego Comic-Con, as well as local and state governments respond to public health, I want to give guidance on what you may expect from us, as things develop:
● If your therapist is sick, they will cancel all in-person sessions. We will make arrangements for the video.
● If your therapist becomes too ill to provide appropriate treatment, even via telemedicine, you will be contacted by a trusted fellow provider, with referrals for treatment through them, or someone else.
● Depending on new regulations and guidance by the state and federal government, We may even close our in person practice, without a determined timeframe to reopen. You will be immediately notified if this is the case.
I hope this information is helpful. Please let us know if you have any questions or thoughts.
To reach us via telephone:470.545.2297
Or send email to my Administrative Assistant at: robjones@joshua-generation.net
Mindfully,
Dr. Bryan A. Jones, LPC
Owner and Executive Director
Pastoral Counselor
The Joshua Generation Care and Consultant Services, LLC