3rd February 2021
 

Regarding COVID 19 and client services

Hello to all my valued clients,

Current COVID guidelines mean we are able to offer in-person appointments if you wish. Telehealth appointments are also still available tor clients who would prefer.

Medicare has agreed to support telehealth for Allied Health until March 31st 2021.

As more information emerges, or the situation changes, I will be updating this page, so please check back at any time.

Some guidelines for Telehealth

Telehealth is very different from face-to-face counselling sessions, especially as we are all going to be doing this from our own home. Most sessions will be conducted using Zoom software, though I will also offer phone consultations if you are uncomfortable using the technology.

The following maybe helpful:

• Find a place that is quiet where you can feel safe, and not be overheard. If that is difficult for you, you can also use headphones so that our conversation is more private.
• Sign up for a free Zoom account and download the computer application.
• Set yourself up comfortably a couple of minutes before your appointment time. If possible have both a phone and computer available, as the technology may misbehave at times.
• A link will be sent to you via email to join a video conference, click on the link and Julie will host the session. Click here to see a video on how to join a Zoom meeting.
• If you prefer a phone call, let Julie know. If you need to call her, the number is 0407 329 722.
• It can be a little (or a lot) confronting seeing yourself talking on a screen and can bring up a lot of anxiety. Below are some tips on how to change your screen view so that you cannot see yourself but I can still see you (we are not used to seeing ourselves talking, let alone if we have body image issues).
• At any stage let Julie know if it’s feeling difficult, confusing or confronting. Everyday things that we take for granted in face-to-face sessions like eye contact or body language may be more challenging but we just need to talk about it to find the best way for you.
• The technology may also misbehave, but we can troubleshoot it together while we work this out.
• Most of the world is weird and confusing at the moment, so it’s important that we accept things will be a bit chaotic at the moment. Try not to judge yourself if you feel overwhelmed by all the changes. Remember, we are all here to figure things out together. You are not alone.

How to manage your anxiety about seeing yourself on the screen:

• Raise your computer or laptop up so that you are staring directly at the camera rather than looking down.
• Adjust the positioning of your screen so that you can only see your head or head and shoulders.
• If seeing yourself in the meeting will be difficult for you, you have the option to hide your video from yourself, so I can still see you but you don’t have to see yourself (after all, we rarely look at ourselves while we talk!).
• To hide yourself from view, click on the video of yourself, then on the three blue dots next to the mute button. Then click on ‘hide myself’ and you should no longer see yourself on the screen.
• 
• You may need to switch to Gallery View if it is not working, which can be found in the top right hand corner of the screen.
• If you can’t find the blue dots, then try right clicking on your video and the option should come up in a drop down menu.

• If all else fails, you can turn off your camera entirely by clicking on ‘Stop Video’ in the bottom left-hand corner of your screen.