We, at Gaithersburg Counseling Center, are committed to providing support to current and new clients as we navigate this unprecedented time together. COVID-19 has created a sense of uncertainty for many of us. We specialize in helping you manage stress, anxiety or depression, relationship difficulties, work/life balance and teen issues. While our therapists are currently not seeing clients in the office, they are providing online therapy. It is intended for this provision to be temporary and we are reassessing the situation regularly to determine the safety in reopening our office and allowing in-office visits to resume.
Your mental and physical health is of utmost importance to us now, and always, and we want access to our services to be widespread by providing online therapy. We want to increase the likelihood that our clients will be able to stay safe, healthy and home! We are looking forward to meeting with you in person soon!
Please review the following information about our transition to online therapy and let us know if you have any additional questions: (240) 274-5680 or Admin@HealingLLC.com
Take Good Care,
Amy Hooper, LCSW-C, CEAP, Director, Gaithersburg Counseling Center &
Sara Rothleder, LCSW-C, Director of Operations, Gaithersburg Counseling Center
New Clients
We are accepting new clients for online therapy! If you are interested in becoming a new client, working with one of our therapists online, initially, and then moving to in-office sessions, we are happy to get you scheduled. Please contact us at (240) 274-5680 or Admin@HealingLLC.com.
Current Clients
We are continuing to provide care to current clients using online therapy. If you are a current client of one of our therapists, your sessions will occur using your therapist’s chosen online therapy platform. Please be in touch with your therapist to discuss scheduling options.
Forms
For current clients, you will need to complete the “Consent for Phone or Virtual Therapy (Telehealth) Sessions” prior to meeting with your therapist for the first time for online therapy. Your therapist will email you this form.
If you are a new client, we have adopted the Adobe Sign program to make completion and submission of the necessary paperwork, to your therapist, prior to your first session extremely easy. You will be given instructions on how to complete the paperwork and it will be emailed to you through Adobe Sign and submitted directly to your therapist once completed.
Preparing for Online Therapy
We encourage you to download and test the appropriate online therapy platform prior to your appointment time once we send you the link to do so. Please ensure that you have a secure internet connection and that you are not using a public network. Also, it is important to be able to meet with your therapist in a safe, confidential space, which can be difficult, so plan ahead and explore where you might want to have your session in the comforts of your home or even your car.
If there are technical difficulties, your therapist will arrange a “back-up” plan with you; i.e., they may ask to continue the session via phone if the online therapy platform is not working properly.
When you schedule your appointment, you will receive instructions on how to login to your therapists specific meeting page. Please be sure to activate both the microphone and the camera before starting your session. If there is a technical issue with the platform, your therapist will call you directly.
In order to ensure we have the most up to date contact information, please remember to provide your cell phone number on the consent form.
Benefits of Online Therapy
While we understand that, for many people, online therapy does not replace face-to-face contact with your therapist, there are some benefits. One of the most beneficial aspects, especially during this time, is that you do have access to continue or even begin therapy despite the fact that the Stay at Home Order is still in effect. Online therapy can offer flexibility to clients and therapists in terms of scheduling and is done in the comforts of your own space. Online therapy allows therapists to provide support to clients during a time that may produce feelings of anxiety and isolation allowing you to talk to someone outside your home. Online therapy allows for increased accessibility particularly for clients who have a harder time getting around and for clients who may be ill.
Payment
Your therapist will discuss payment options during your initial online therapy session. If you are a new client, this information will be included in your Appointment Confirmation email.
Receipts for Online Therapy
Providers can send receipts to your home, with your permission, if they are necessary for reimbursement.
