We at Lepage Associates want to assure you that we are doing everything we can to ensure a sanitary environment for our clients and employees, as well as to be prepared to ensure clients will not have to miss their therapy or evaluation sessions in this particularly challenging time. Currently our office is open and operating as usual, with numerous extra sanitizing procedures in place, and with tele-therapy and outdoor therapy as options.
OUTDOOR THERAPY: Our beautiful campus has always allowed the opportunity for outdoor therapy sessions, either walking along the paved trail behind our office, or enjoying therapy on a park bench by the fountain. And kids love being on our large expansive lawn! Just dress comfortably for the temperature if you want to be outside.
TELE-THERAPY: Given our long history of offering tele-therapy, we are actually highly prepared and able to ensure all clients can receive therapy (as well as complete many evaluations) using this remote tele-health option if they prefer. And of course, rural communities actually have been using tele-health successfully for many years, so this is not a new or untested mode. It is an important vehicle to allow people to continue to be able to engage in and benefit from therapy when face to face sessions are not possible. It is extremely easy to use a video chat option wherein we send you a link that connects you directly and seamlessly to your therapist via a HIPAA-compliant connection (or you can just use phone minus video for a simple phone call session if you prefer).
Children: While therapy with pre-teen children via video chat provides unique challenges different from a talk-therapy session with an adult or teen, our child therapists have – before COVID – provided tele-therapy for children for various reasons. They are well-equipped with creative ways to provide therapy to children via tele-therapy, and not surprisingly, children are typically quite comfortable with electronics and this mode of communication.
IN-OFFICE SESSIONS: We are distancing and/or wearing masks for your safety. It is easy to socially distance when doing therapy since typically seating between therapist and client is a few feet apart anyway, even pre-COVID. We also have masks available for any clients who want them.
Sanitizing: We are sanitizing surfaces that are regular touch-points frequently, such as door handles and faucets, to help lessen the spread of germs. We will also be washing our hands several times throughout the day and encourage clients to do the same. Our restrooms and waiting rooms have disinfectant wipes, spray or cleaner for your use should you want to wipe down a surface (such as a faucet) right before you use it, and hand sanitizer is available at check-in for all clients. For children who use toys here, doctors and clients will wash their hands and use our hand sanitizer right before session, and we are cleaning toys frequently. Additionally, our restrooms and waiting rooms have disinfectant wipes, spray or cleaner for your use should you want to wipe down a surface (such as a faucet) right before you use it, and hand sanitizer is available at check-in for all clients. For children who use toys here, doctors and clients will wash their hands and use our hand sanitizer right before session, and we are cleaning toys frequently.
Cold Symptoms: Should a therapist have any cold symptoms, we have asked they stay home and provide you with tele-therapy (video chat) sessions, or phone sessions, whichever you prefer. You will receive a phone call and/or email message to alert you if your therapist has cold symptoms and will be doing therapy by video chat or phone.
Evaluations: Many evaluations can also be provided remotely via tele-health, with clinical interviews done via video chat and testing done online. However, some evaluations must be done in the office. In these cases, we are: sanitizing test equipment before and after each testing, having clients and doctors wash hands and use hand sanitizer before testing, using a plexiglass barrier and/or masks when we need to be closer than six feet apart during testing, and have masks and gloves available for use.
What You Can Do To Help: If you or your child have cold symptoms or have been around someone with cold symptoms, or have a fever above 100, please use either the tele-therapy session option or phone session option versus coming to the office. Just call the office and/or email your therapist and the Office Manager to let us know you want to use this option, and we will get you set up; it’s quick and easy, and can even be set up last minute as it only takes a couple of minutes to get a link to you!
If you prefer to utilize tele-therapy even if you are well, of course anyone can use this option anytime! Just let us know anytime you want an online session and we will happily provide that. Tele-therapy is a great option any time and especially when working to lessen your exposure to germs. Please know tele-therapy is always an option and it is always your choice to come to the office versus having your session online.
WAITING ROOM: To lessen the numbers of people in the waiting room and the spread of germs, we ask once you check in that you consider waiting outside if there are others in the waiting room (just let the receptionist know so the doctor knows where to find you), or that if waiting inside you wear a mask and remain six feet or more away from others. If your child will be in therapy or testing and you must wait for them, please consider waiting in your car or enjoying our beautiful outdoor courtyard to wait. If you wait inside, please wear a mask. We are happy to provide one if you need one.
IN SUMMARY, we are currently open as usual and seeing clients at the office indoors or outdoors, sanitizing frequently, have masks available, and can provide tele-therapy or phone sessions anytime as needed or preferred.
Regards,
Dr. Tina Lepage
Licensed Psychologist & CEO
