Tag: #telehealth

2020 sure hasn’t turned out like we envisioned. What started as a regular year, soon turned into something very different. During the COVID-19 pandemic we have all been faced with uncertainty and a level of fear and anxiety. Coupled with that are the frequently changing guidelines/rules we have been asked to adhere to and this can easily lead to feeling overwhelmed. Life as we know it has changed, and what we deemed as “normal” is no longer relevant, well for the short-term that is! We are all in uncharted territory. As a community, we know that we must remain home, to reduce the curve but with that comes a lot of change and adjustment.

Here are some tips to help with maintaining emotional wellbeing whilst in isolation:

• Stay socially connected. This is most fundamental! Whilst social distancing inhibits us from seeing friends and family, that doesn’t mean we need to disconnect from our supports. Stay connected to family and friends through regular telephone conversations, text messaging, social media or video chat. My personal preference is video chat, as you can see the person and it helps to form that personal connection. There are lots of group video chat platforms and apps that are free to download, e.g. Zoom, Skype, Houseparty. Why not schedule in a coffee catchup with mates online or play online games together? I was recently introduced to the Houseparty app which I found was a great way to chat to several friends at once and we could play in-built games together through the app which included trivia and the apps own version of Pictionary. It was great fun!
• Establish a daily routine. Routines are beneficial as they provide structure, aid us to be more productive and efficient, encourage good habits and reduce stress. Although your regular routine may not be applicable to the current situation, establishing a new routine/maintaining a form of your usual routine is still important. Allowing yourself to fall out of routine can lead to increased distress and feelings of disempowerment. Sticking to a routine such as a regular bedtime and awakening time, scheduling in time for work/study as well as planning enjoyable activities to look forward to each day, regular exercise, and opportunities to relax, can help to increase your sense of control.    
• Exercise. Exercise is a natural way to reduce stress and is great for physical and emotional wellbeing! Try and get outdoors for a walk, jog, run or bike ride (remembering to adhere to social distancing regulations). Ask other members in your household to join you or take the kids for a bike ride/scooter ride. If you have some exercise equipment at home, try to schedule in time each day for a workout. There are lots of apps available, online resources, and YouTube exercise clips you can access. For those with an existing gym membership, your gym may be offering online sessions. Why not make the most of your membership and give it a go?! 
• Relaxation. Set aside time each day to engage in a relaxing activity like a nice bath, reading or a jigsaw. You may wish to try mindfulness meditation (the Smiling Mind app is free and has lots of guided meditations to choose from), some gentle stretching, or calm breathing. For more ideas on various relaxation strategies check out my blog https://yourmindmatters.net.au/incorporating-relaxation-everyday-life/. 
• Focus on what is within your control. Let’s face it, there is so much that is outside of our control at the moment. No we cannot control the COVID-19 pandemic, the regulations the government has put in place and is enforcing, the impact the pandemic has had on the economy, employment rate, the way we live our lives…the list goes on. I can’t stress how vital it is to focus on what is within your control, what you can do and the choices you can make. Concentrate on how you can look after yourself and others in your household, who you can connect with and offer support/help to (this could include family, friends or the community), and things you can do right now/in the moment that helps to enhance your life or that of others. 
• Make it fun. Although there are likely other things you’d prefer to be doing, rather than staying at home all day, take the opportunity to make your time at home fun. Some ideas include: 

• Setting up a tent in the backyard and making a bonfire…you can even roast some marshmallows! 
• Scavenger hunt
• Games night (boardgames, cards, videogames etc)
• Indoor picnic
• Movie marathon
• Art/craft activities

• Manage your exposure to news/media coverage. There is heaps of information out there about COVID-19 and news coverage on every channel. Every time you turn on the TV, radio station, or scroll through social media, you’re likely to come across some form of information about COVID-19 and this can be overwhelming. Stick to reputable sources which can provide you with accurate information.  

I hope these tips are helpful in guiding you through this challenging time. Stay safe and healthy. I know it doesn’t seem like it right now, but as the Buddhist proverb says “this too shall pass”. 

If you would like some support, why not give us a call? Our team of psychologists are here to help. Your Mind Matters Psychology Services is currently offering counselling support through Telehealth (phone or video sessions). For more information, visit https://yourmindmatters.net.au/covid-19/. 

This blog was written by Maria Kampantais, psychologist at Your Mind Matters Psychology Services. She works with us 4 days per week (day and evening sessions) and is passionate about working with clients suffering from various anxiety disorders.

SUPPORTING OUR COMMUNITY AND CLIENTS

In the wake of community concerns around COVID-19, we’re committed to providing our clients with ongoing support, so that you can continue working on your health and well-being.

WHAT CAN YOU (AND WE) DO TO REDUCE RISK OF INFECTION?
We are committed to ensuring our team are healthy when they are at work. We are equally committed to reducing your risk of exposure to illness while attending your appointments with us.

We are following Department of Health guidelines around hygiene and encourage you to do the same:

• Cough into your elbow
• Throw away used tissues
• Wash hands for a minimum 20 seconds regularly, or use hand sanitiser often
• Stay home if you are unwell
• Follow the guidelines and recommendations set by the Department of Health and self-exclude if you have been to any of the countries with exclusion periods or have been in contact with someone with confirmed or suspected COVID-19. We also ask that you not attend the practice when you are unwell regardless of whether you think this may be COVID-19 or a cold or flu

We are ensuring team members remain at home if they are unwell.

Likewise, we ask that you reschedule your appointments with us at the first sign of ill-health.

WHAT IF MY CLINICIAN IS ISOLATED BUT WELL ENOUGH TO RUN MY SESSION?
Our clinicians are experienced at offering sessions via telephone or video-chat (telehealth). If your clinician is isolated, but well enough to conduct sessions, you will be offered a telehealth consultation.

WHAT IF I’M ISOLATED BUT WELL ENOUGH TO HAVE MY SESSION?
If you need to cancel your appointment due to isolation, you will be offered teleheath options as an alternative to cancelling.

HOW ARE TELEHEALTH SESSIONS CHARGED?
Sessions fees cover the time spent with your clinician. Therefore, we charge our normal fee for telehealth sessions. NDIS self-managed or Plan Managed clients are able to use their funds for phone and online sessions also. Private clients (those who pay upfront, with or without a Medicare rebate), please check with your private health insurer to see if you can access a rebate under these circumstances.

HOW DO I PAY FOR A TELEHEALTH SESSION?

You can pay for sessions via credit card, which is stored in our secure encrypted system (using Stripe with Power Diary), or we can send you an invoice and ask that you transfer funds as soon as possible (within 48 hours).

If you have any questions please call us on 03 9802 4654.

HOW DO I PREPARE FOR ONLINE SESSIONS?

Prior to your appointment:

If you are a new client and haven’t signed our new consent form, our admin team will send you some forms to complete. Please print, sign, and email back to us. You will need to return this prior to your first online session. Your Psychologist will email you an invite confirming the time of your appointment, and information regarding what telehealth platform they will use. If they use Zoom, you will receive instructions on how to use it. Here is a little video that outlines how to join a zoom session https://youtu.be/vFhAEoCF7jg.

If they use PowerDiary, all you need to do is click the link at the time of your appointment. So easy!

Make sure at the time of your appointment, you have a quite, private place, and ideally have a notebook with you, so you can take down any notes, ideas, or insights.

Troubleshooting:

• Make sure that you have a full battery in preparation
• Practice placing the phone, iPad, laptop or computer in a suitable location so that your psychologist can see you
• Make sure the camera and audio are turned on (it is a good idea to practice before your scheduled session time)

 If at the time of the session, you aren’t able to connect, we will call you instead!

FAQ ABOUT TELEHEALTH

What if I don’t have the same connection online or on the phone as I do in person?

This is a concern that most of us have had, which is understandable when we are used to face to face interactions. However, most clients report that after a few minutes, and they adjust to the new interface and way of connecting, that video-chat is just as effective! Of course, this may not be everyone’s experience, but it certainly can work under the right circumstances and is better than no support at all.

The first session may be a bit strange and you may be more focused on how the camera is angled or how your voice sounds etc. but once you have settled in, you will likely notice that it feels the same. If it doesn’t, tell your practitioner and work through why and what is happening for you around the connection.

I am not tech savvy, is it complicated?

We use Power Diary (our practice management software) or Zoom (similar to Skype or Facetime, but more secure, check out their privacy policy https://zoom.us/privacy/) and set up the meeting on our end. We then email you a link with any information you need to sign in. 

If we login to the meeting and cannot see you online, we will give you a call. That way, if you are struggling to set up, we can help walk you through the steps. Having said that, if your device doesn’t wish to cooperate, we’ll chat over the phone instead.

Benefits

The beauty of telehealth is that you can be in isolation, and still access support! You don’t need to leave the house, and you can even stay in your PJ’s all day if you like (we don’t mind!) Given the current situation with social distancing as a response to COVID19, online therapy could be a game changer for anyone seeking support!

We truly hope that this pandemic is short lived, but in the meantime, we’re here to help. 

Please call us on 039802 4654 if you have any other questions.

Best wishes, stay safe, and we hope to see you soon!

From all of us at YMM Psychology.