Comforts of Home Counseling is offering Telehealth Counseling options for new and established patients.
We use a secure, HIPAA compliant, telecommunication technology that has audio and video capabilities and provides two-way, real-time interactive communication. We are also offering services over the telephone during this national crisis if our patient does not have the technology available to them to engage in video conferencing. Being able to reach our patients where they are and providing a confidential means of communicating is our utmost priority.
The clinicians at Comforts of Home Counseling have been trained to provide Telehealth Counseling services and are continuing to utilize their experience, skills and treatment modalities in this realm of healthcare.
How does Telehealth work?
Prior to your first Telehealth session, you will be provided a form to read and sign called a Telebehavioral Health Informed Consent. If you are a new patient, there will be other forms that we will request you complete as well. You will need to provide either an email address or a cellular phone number for your therapist to send you a link at the time of your session. Once you receive the link, you can click on the link and it will take you to an online platform where you will be able to see and talk to your therapist in real time. At the beginning of each session, your therapist will read you a list of items in order to ensure your consent, safety and confidentiality. You will then engage in your therapy session as you normally would while in the office.
Will my insurance cover Telehealth?
During the Public Health Emergency that was declared by the US Government due to the COVID-19 Global Pandemic, most insurances, including Medicare, are allowing and paying for Telehealth services as a means of providing psychotherapy.
Some commercial insurance plans are waiving co-pays for a limited time during the Public Health Emergency. Medicare is not waiving co-pays or deductibles. Many health insurances covered Telehealth psychotherapy services prior to the Public Health Emergency and will more than likely continue to cover them afterwards.
We recommend you check with your insurance and the specific plan to determine coverage of Telehealth. Our office staff will be more than happy to assist you with this as well.
To engage in Telehealth, we request you follow these guidelines:
Telehealth Guidelines
- The most important thing is to have privacy. We do our best to provide that when we meet in the office, but now it’s up to you. Please do everything possible to make sure you are in a private space where it is unlikely you will be heard or interrupted. You may need to ask others in your space to respect your privacy by doing things like turning on entertainment in another room or listening to something on headphones.
- Try to make yourself comfortable, but not too comfortable. If you can, settle into a nice, comfortable chair. Avoid lying in bed or on your TV-watching couch as well as sitting on the floor or walking around. Try to arrange yourself in as session-like a position as you can.
- Put a box of tissues next to where you will be.
- If you want, pour yourself a glass of water.
- If there are resources that you and your therapist use to assist you in grounding, please make sure you have easy access to them such as ice, heat, essential oils, blanket, etc.
- Please be sure to dress as you would if we were meeting in the office.
- Turn off all devices other than the one you are using to make the call. If using a smartphone or computer, do your best to quit from all programs other than the one we are using and turn off all notifications if you can.
- Try to leave yourself a few additional minutes both before and after the session to allow time for a transition.
- Location is important. Your clinician will ask you where you are located at the beginning of each session.
If you are interested in Telehealth Counseling, please contact Comforts of Home Counseling at (269) 964-0153 or email us at cohc@comfortsofhomecounseling.com, we will be happy to answer any of your questions and schedule your appointment.