COVID 19 for RTC Therapists

We will post up to date info that you need to know to this webpage.  Please send Jeb any info that you think would be helpful.  

For Tuesday 9am meetings and daily 11am meetings – the zoom link is:  https://zoom.us/j/994947701

If you would like new intakes – please make sure to do the following:

  1. Text or call all your current and past clients from the last 6-12 months and engage with them on a personal level.  We’d recommend going back even further than that.
  2. Schedule a 15 minute conversation with Lara about how to increase your numbers.
  3. Meet your minimum client contact hours – but it doesn’t have to be through seeing clients.  You can meet your hours in any of the ways listed below.  

List of Activities that Count Towards Your Client Contact Hours:

  1. Meeting with Theresa, Jeb, or Lara about increasing client contact hours
  2. Reaching out to current and past clients.  Any time engaging with them counts.  
  3. Offer some type of resource to the community such as “An Hour with a Relationship Therapist”, an Experiential connecting exercise over zoom, creating a video resource for clients (e.g. top 3 ways of dealing with your partner during the time of Covid 19).

Top 5 Things You Can Do Right Now to Increase Your Caseload:

  1. Assume that you are going to do telehealth with all of your clients.  Don’t make a big deal of the difference.  Clients will respond in the way you are presenting it.  If you think it’s not as good – so will clients.  I have heard from several therapists who have used this method that it’s been incredibly successful in maintaining their caseloads.  Terry said “I just send out the link and say I’ll see you at X time”.  
  2. Call or text your clients from the last 6-12 months.  Engage with them and make it about checking in with them.  You don’t have to pitch them coming in.  But once the conversation gets started – it’s easier to encourage them to do a telehealth session.  This is the single best way to increase your caseload.  See potential scripts below under the heading ‘Scripts’.   
  3. Consider seeing your clients in different ways – including:
    • See clients multiple times in the same week
    • Think about what your clients need to focus on in their lives – see this time as an opportunity to do much needed work
    • See your couples as individuals 
    • Offer supportive therapy
    • Encourage clients to do therapy now because it may be one of the few times that they have the time to work together on their relationship
    • Think about novel ways of doing therapy and providing services (e.g. therapy on demand, texting therapy, skills in the moment, Atkinson’s audio recording therapy where he sends audios back and forth to his clients, etc.)
  4. Be flexible:
    • Offer last minute sessions
    • Allow for sessions outside of your typical schedule
  5. Help people who are reticent about telehealth feel more comfortable:
    • Offer a 15 minute free session to show the client how well it works.  Almost universally this assures clients and they are able to get over any hesitation they have to the format.
    • Use platforms that are reliable and easy to use.
    • If they are having trouble with the technology – guide them through it over the phone – or use a different platform.  

Scripts:

  • “Hey, just checking in. Wondering how you and Bob are doing during this challenging time?”  Then, later once they have responded, “Would you like to touch base? Even just personally about how you are doing? It might be good to get a little extra support during this time. I am doing video sessions (which I believe your insurance will cover) and I could FaceTime you at 3PM today?”

  • Don’t take cancelling as a casual thing – here is Efrén’s script on what he says to a client who didn’t originally want to come in until the office re-opens:
    • “Hello XX. Current predictions are that severe social distancing will be in effect for several months to a year and a half–this is the new normal. I would ask you to seriously consider continuing therapy via videoconferencing as the stress on us all is going to be high for quite some time and likely expand our initial therapeutic goals. I know from past experience that therapy works just as well via video. Perhaps it would be helpful to conduct one Telehealth session to try therapy in this medium. Of course, your decision to terminate is your decision and I will support it. If we do pause our meetings, I will be available whenever you decide you are ready to resume. Let me know what you decide.Take special care of yourself and your loved ones. Efrén

Pertinent Resources – General:

Innovative Ways of Working with Different Populations

Kids

  • Have them create a positive portfolio – head around the room and find things that remind them of positive memories.  Have them show you things in their room that remind them of being safe. (credit to Jamie Kanady Mosley via Facebook MN Mental Health COVID-19 Support).
  • Have teens turn their webcam off to decrease their anxiety (credit to Becca Fischer via Facebook MMHCS)