Voth Family Therapy's COVID-19 Plan
In light of the rapid developments regarding the COVID-19 pandemic, I am writing today to tell you about Voth Family Therapy’s preparedness plan. We are committed to your wellbeing, the health of our therapists and to doing our part to prevent the further spread of this illness. The VFT team is taking the following measures to ensure continued services and good health:
Cleanliness – All offices are equipped with hand sanitizer and anti-bacterial wipes. Therapists and clients are encouraged to be diligent with hand-washing.
Social Distancing – Under the following circumstances, please do not attend in-person sessions:
If you have any symptoms, even mild ones. Symptoms include cough, low-grade to high fever, sneezing and other things you’d associate with a common cold/flu.
If someone in your household or with whom you have regular, close contact with has symptoms.
If you have recently returned from international travel and may have been exposed to the coronavirus.
If a therapist experiences any of the above, she will contact her clients and arrange for an alternate method of service delivery.
Ongoing Service Delivery – Effective March 13, the preferred method of service delivery will be an alternate means to in-person sessions. All clients will be offered the option to have sessions by phone, Skype or Doxy.me (a free, secure platform similar to Skype with added security for telemedicine) instead of in-person, whether you have symptoms or not. There is no additional charge for distance therapy.
Cancellation Policy – We are temporarily waiving the fees for cancellations with less than 24 hours’ notice. No shows will continue to be billed the full fee. We encourage you to keep your appointment when possible by connecting with your therapist by phone or Skype.
How do I make changes to my appointment time or method?
As always, please contact your therapist directly by phone, text or email as soon as you know you need to make a change to your appointment time. You can also discuss your preferred appointment method (phone, Skype or Doxy.me, in-person) with your therapist.
What if things change?
The situation regarding COVID-19 is changing rapidly and we are doing our best to keep pace with current government recommendations. Your therapist will contact you directly to discuss any additional changes or you will receive a notification like this one by email.
All of this planning is making me (or my kids) anxious.
We can help with that! Keep an eye on our blog and social media feeds for information about staying mentally well and supporting your kids during this stressful time. Speak to your therapist about your specific situation.
Please remember that by attending appointments in-person you may unknowingly be putting others at risk, including your therapist and their family. VFT therapists are among the many people in Manitoba who don’t have paid sick benefits. In addition to our hope to reduce the spread of infection, we also wish to minimize the financial and other impacts of the virus to the people in our communities. So, whether the concern is COVID-19 or the common flu, your consideration for our health, the health of other clients and the health of our community is always appreciated.
I understand that most clients prefer to meet in-person and that getting creative with how our sessions happen might be uncomfortable for you. Your willingness to help us “flatten the curve” of COVID-19 is much appreciated!
To stay informed, please follow us on Instagram and Facebook and keep an eye on the blog. The World Health Organization is the best source for up-to-date information. You can find them here.
Wishing you good health and with much warmth,
Jodie Voth, RMFT
Owner & Therapist, Voth Family Therapy
BLOG AUTHOR
JODIE VOTH
JODIE IS A FULL-TIME THERAPIST AND OWNER OF VOTH FAMILY THERAPY.