Our response to coronavirus

Hello!

For those of you I have not met, my name is Chad Corbley, and I am the owner of City Counseling: A Home for Growth. As we all contend with the evolving disruptions associated with the coronavirus, I wanted to let you know some of the steps we’re taking and what the next several weeks might look like for our clients and staff.

• Cleaning, disinfecting, and other precautions:
  • Devin has purchased wipes and cans of Lysol which you will see around the practice. We will be using these regularly on surfaces, doorknobs, etc. in addition to our regular cleaning.
  • We will temporarily be purchasing hot cups for anyone not comfortable using the mugs (which are themselves washed regularly), and we won’t be providing any cookies or candy (sad, I know).
  • We will temporarily remove magazines, coloring books, and other materials from the waiting area.
  • All of us are heeding the call to wash, wash, wash our hands.
  • Please try not to arrive too early for your appointments so as to limit the contact between clients and with Devin.
• Clients and staff who are ill:
  • Please do not come to session if you are feeling ill, even if it seems minor.
  • We will be waiving late cancellation fees for the time being.
  • Staff will also stay home if they suspect they have any illness.
  • Hugs and handshakes are typical for some clients and staff. Folx can use their own discretion here, but know that it is absolutely OK for staff or clients to put up a boundary around physical contact.
• Telehealth options:
  • If you are not comfortable coming in, or if you don’t feel well but would like to proceed with your session, we will strive to be as flexible as we can about having phone or video conference sessions. Your therapist will review some basic guidelines with you, as well as some of the pitfalls and potential issues with telehealth.
  • If you cannot come in due to childcare issues (with the closure of schools) telehealth may be an option.
  • If a therapist doesn’t feel comfortable seeing clients in person, they may be in contact about using telehealth options.
  • Given that she has more person-to-person interaction than anyone else here, Devin may start working from home. As always, the quickest way to contact her is through our main email address: citycounseling@gmail.com

Lastly, I want to address the mental and emotional strain this represents for folks, particularly those already dealing with mental health concerns.

• First, please know that it is perfectly normal to be affected by this crisis, and, for a lot of folks, this can extend into obsessive thoughts, panic, helplessness, and exacerbated depressive symptoms. The best advice I’ve heard is simply to listen to the experts. This can mean sticking to information provided by the CDC and the Ohio and Columbus Health Departments, and giving yourself permission to back away from endless news and social media consumption. It is also OK for this crisis to be a topic in therapy.
• Second, social distancing seems to be the best tool we have for slowing the spread of the virus. It might also exacerbate existing feelings of loneliness and/or isolation. It becomes even more vital under the current circumstances to stay as connected as possible and to check in with loved ones (by phone if necessary). Here’s a link to a helpful resource from SAMHSA about the psychological impact of this crisis: https://store.samhsa.gov/product/Taking-Care-of-Your-Behavioral-Health-During-an-Infectious-Disease-Outbreak/sma14-4894
• Lastly, we recognize that this could potentially be a financial strain for those in various affected industries. Concern over finances is a HUGE stressor on its own; we believe that it shouldn’t also prevent you from seeking services. To that end, we at City Counseling are committed, now and always, to working with our clients around issues of payment (e.g., establishing payment plans).

Sincerely,

Chad, Abbe, Brian, Dorian, Ryan, Barbara, and Devin