Covid -19 Update as We Reopen the Country and Meet in Person Again!

I hope that you and your families are healthy and safe at this time. As we start to venture out and meet in person again, perhaps you're thinking about resuming in person sessions. I want you to know that I'm taking the following precautions to continue to support efforts to stop the spread of Covid 19:

• Wearing a facemask in common areas

• After each session, our clinicians in Coconut Creek and Fort Lauderdale offices are spraying the office with disinfecting spray for soft surfaces and wiping hard surfaces with disinfecting wipes (including the office door handle)

• Disinfecting wipes, disinfecting spray, and hand sanitizer are available to each client to use in office and waiting area

• Restroom has disinfecting hand soap and paper towels available for use

• All team members are following the 20 second guidelines for hand washing

• The waiting area and all handles are being wiped with disinfecting wipes (including the office door handle) multiple times a day

• Encouraging clients' caregivers to wait in their car or in the open area for their loved one to complete their therapy session.

• Texting clients when they can come up for their session to avoid multiple clients waiting in the common areas

• Offering online sessions as an option for continuing care

• Purchased air purifier

Decision to Meet Face-to-Face. This is a very personal decision and I want you to know that I respect and support what feels more comfortable for you and therefore I continue to provide telehealth services. If there is a resurgence of the pandemic or if other health concerns arise, I may require that we meet via telehealth. Please be aware of the risks of opting for in-person services and keep in mind your own health and level of comfort. To receive services in person, I need you to please agree to take certain precautions which will help keep everyone (you, me, and our families, other clinicians and other clients) safer from exposure, sickness and possible death. Some of this health and safety guidelines include:

• You will take your temperature before coming to each appointment. If it is elevated (100 Fahrenheit or more), or if you have other symptoms of the coronavirus, you agree to cancel the appointment or proceed using telehealth.

• You will wait in your car until no earlier than 5 minutes before our appointment time.

• You will wash your hands or use alcohol-based hand sanitizer when you enter our suite.

• You will adhere to the safe distancing precautions.

• You will wear a mask in all common areas of the office (I [and other clinicians] will too).

• You will keep a distance of 6 feet and there will be no physical contact (e.g. no shaking hands) with me [or other clinicians].

• If you are bringing your child, you will make sure that your child follows all of these sanitation and distancing protocols.

• You will take steps between appointments to minimize your exposure to COVID-19.

• If you have a job that exposes you to other people who are infected, you will immediately let me know.

• If your commute or other responsibilities or activities put you in close contact with others (beyond your family), you will let me know.

• If a resident of your home tests positive for the infection, you will immediately let me know and we will then [begin] resume sessions via telehealth.

Thank you for your cooperation!

We are all in this together and together we will succeed! Please let us know if you have any questions or additional suggestions on how to continue keeping our practice a healthy and safe place for everyone! If you are able, please stay home and continue with your online sessions! Let’s all be extra kind and helpful as we continue to navigate this difficult time.

Carolina Gaviria, LMHC, NCC, CEDS