Our office procedures have changed,
but we're still here for you.
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Greetings!
Carmen and I hope you are well. Please reply to this email to let me know that you received this message, if you have any urgent needs, and how you are getting by. Due to the current state of emergency, the Governor has ordered all gatherings and places of business (including ours) to be closed, with the exception of those that are required to maintain life and safety.
Group therapy at this office has been suspended, at least until May 1, 2020.
At the same time, most government offices (including courts) have been closed for approximately the same period.
All individual psychotherapy appointments currently on the calendar, and for the forseeable future, have been converted to telehealth appointments
which are covered by most health insurances to the same extent as face-to-face counseling.
I expect to be using
doxy.me (see below), FaceTalk (if you have an iPhone), or Google Hangouts (if you have a Gmail account), or another HIPAA compliant platform. If you have questions about how these applications work, let me know. They are simple to operate and I hope you will give them a try. I will be happy to help you if you have questions about how to use them.
Changes to our office procedures, as the Coronavirus emergency progresses, will be updated on our website at
choicesmhc.com/?q=covid-19. People in recovery are invited to check out some of the online 12-step and other meetings listed on the same page, which have virtually exploded in numbers, on Zoom and other apps.
I will let you know when I am ready to offer group therapy online (perhaps on a platform similar to the ones used by the above linked online meetings) for the duration of the current public health emergency until we are able to resume regular mental health counseling sessions in the office.
Please feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns, or if you would like to schedule an virtual appointment. Your emails to tom@choicesmhc.com and voicemails at 845-513-5002 are confidential. I am the only one who sees (or hears) them. You are welcome to contact me by either method at any time.
Warm regards,
Tom Rue
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Telecounseling on your smartphone or computer
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From the privacy of your home or any location in New York State, it's simple to use your smartphone, computer, or tablet to connect with your counselor for individual mental health support or relapse prevention counseling. All you need is a private space to talk freely, an Internet connection, and a working device. Email
Tom Rue to schedule a virtual counseling appointment.
Telehealth is covered by most health insurances, including MVP Healthcare, Fidelis Care NY, and various commercial plans (too many to list). Check with your insurance company for coverage details.
We use
doxy.me or other similar conferencing apps.
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Check out this video for an example of an easy telehealth platform. If you have an iPhone and run into trouble with
doxy.me
, and prefer Apple FaceTime,
legal guidanc
e now allows use of that as a backup option.
A few evaluations can only be conducted in person (for example, for US DOT safety-sensitive employees who have had a drug and alcohol violation, or impaired driver assessments conducted for courts or DMV).
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Groups are suspended until at least May 1, 2020.
Our five groups per week will resume when CDC social distancing guidelines have returned to normal. Updates will be announced on
this web page. We are not currently offering group therapy online.
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Community safety is the the top concern.
Anyone who is sick at this time, regardless of the illness, is asked not to come to our office. We have stopped shaking hands. We maintain six feet of "social distance" from anyone visiting. Take care!
Daily sanitizing procedures in the office.
Twice daily, we sanitize the office environment at our 433 Broadway site with disinfectant spray or alcohol wipes. Current details on our office practice's COVID-19 mitigation procedures are outlined
here.
Care for yourself, loved ones, and neighbors.
Reach out to others to get and offer support. With this outbreak, 80% those who test positive will get better at home without medical attention, but everyone needs caring human contact.
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Symptoms of COVID-19
Novel coronavirus may cause mild to severe respiratory symptoms including:
- fever
- cough
- trouble breathing
- pneumonia
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What to do if you are sick?
If you have symptoms like those at left,
call your medical provider immediately ask about testing, and follow directions. You may simply need rest and supportive care. Stay away from others if you're sick and continue to follow vigorous sanitary practices.
Contact us for online mental health counseling if you are feeling isolated, anxious, or depressed.
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Check out our website for links to online support groups and informative articles.
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Tom Rue, MA, LMHC, CASAC, NCC, CCMHC, SAP
phone: 845-513-5002 | fax: 866-428-0282
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