When is it safe to return to normal counseling sessions -amid COVID-19?

As states begin to lift “safer-at-home” and “stay-at-home” orders, some private practitioners may wonder if it’s OK to return to providing in-person services. If feasible, APA recommends that practitioners providing routine outpatient care continue to use telehealth as much as possible to reduce the risk of coronavirus transmission. However, when the time comes to resume in-person sessions, take these steps before opening your office to patient care.

Note: Before resuming face-to-face visits, psychologists should first check state and local orders to find out whether in-person services are advised. For example, an order may limit visits to emergency situations only. See APA’s 50-state guidance on executive orders and telehealth policies.

Some patients may request, or even insist, on seeing you in person, but that does not professionally or ethically obligate you to offer services face-to-face.

To determine whether telehealth is a good option for the patient, consider these factors:

• Does the patient have access to a telehealth platform, and is he or she able to use it?
• If this is ongoing treatment, is the patient making progress? Is there decline?
• Is the next phase in treatment feasible for continuing remotely, or does it require face-to-face contact?

Documentation is key, especially if the patient insists on seeing you in person and you don’t believe it is safe yet to do so. Record patients’ clinical progress, discussions about the benefits of telehealth, plans for next steps and rationale for why you believe providing services via telehealth is clinically appropriate (e.g., there is no history or indication of suicidality or other crisis).

Keep in mind that psychologists can refuse to see patients face-to-face, especially if they are older or have health conditions, or live with family members who have heightened risk factors. Do not unnecessarily jeopardize your health, or the health of your family, your staff or your patients.

As health-care professionals, psychologists need to be aware of the physical health risks and possibility for virus transmission during in-person sessions. Assess the health of the patient and whether their occupation, health status or behaviors put them at heightened risk of contracting the virus and then spreading it through an in-person visit.

From a mental health standpoint, consider whether a small subset of your patients would benefit from resuming in-person therapy, such as those who appear to be worsening or are in acute crisis, and those who need a more intense level of care that is not being met via videoconferencing.

If you decide to see patients in person, it will be crucial to protect your practice through informed consent. Discuss the risk of exposure to the coronavirus with patients and document their understanding of those risks and their agreement to proceed with in-person care.

Be sure to include a clearly defined set of rules to protect physical safety. For example, require the patient to wear a mask, and do not shake hands or make physical contact. Agree that the patient will take their temperature before leaving home and will only attend treatment if there is no sign of fever (generally 100 degrees Fahrenheit or above).

Make it clear that you will require a session via telehealth if there is any suspicion of a fever. It’s important to emphasize that the rules are for the safety of the patient, the psychologist and anyone else in the practice.

Practitioners should also consult with their professional liability insurer for specific risk management guidance.

Note: APA is currently developing an informed consent template for in-person sessions during the public health emergency; it is forthcoming.

The CDC and WHO have developed guidelines for minimizing the spread of the coronavirus. Based on their guidance, APA recommends taking precautions in your practice, including:

• Arrange office seating in the waiting room and in therapy/testing rooms to encourage physical distancing. Consider removing the chairs in the waiting room, positioning them far apart or placing “do not sit here” signs.
• If feasible, open windows or take other steps to increase ventilation.
• Wear a mask and ask your patients to do the same. You should keep some in the office for those who may not have one.
• Schedule appointments at intervals to minimize having too many people in the waiting room.
• Ask patients to come into the office five minutes before their appointment time, not earlier.
• Keep hand sanitizers that contain at least 60% alcohol in the office, the waiting room and check-in counter.
• Post notices encouraging people to wash their hands and to avoid touching their face.
• Tell patients and office staff to stay home if they have a fever, shortness of breath or a cough, or have been exposed to someone who shows signs of COVID-19.
• Avoid hugging or handshaking.
• If you use a credit card station, sanitize it after each use. If staff runs the credit cards, they should wear gloves.

Publish your office policies about COVID-19 and efforts to keep patients safe on your website and in the office.