Tele-Therapy
In response to the unprecedented health phenomenon, our team of therapists offer tele-therapy—confidential, secure, HIPAA-compliant online counseling to ensure physical safety. We connect and conduct our sessions via your computer, tablet, or smartphone, from the privacy of your home.
We recognize some clients’ hesitance in participating in tele-therapy, with concerns over the loss of the personal interaction. Numerous scientific studies have shown that tele-therapy is just as effective as face-to-face therapy, with higher retention rates, while also increasing access to care. Studies have also shown that tele-therapy delivered by video conference is effective for depression, anxiety, and adjustment disorder. Tele-therapy has been particularly helpful to individuals healing from PTSD. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs had conducted numerous trials comparing PTSD interventions delivered face-to-face, compared to video conferencing. The study found that the two methods were equally effective in the majority of the cases.
Tele-therapy is an invaluable option to ensure you can continue your path towards wellness, as we look ahead towards the future, with the hope to continue your journey with you, face-to-face, once it is safe.
HOW DOES TELE-THERAPY WORK?
Tele-therapy sessions can be held virtually anywhere, with three crucial components: a device which supports video conferencing (computer, tablet, smartphone), a reliable, stable internet connection, and a private, quiet, comfortable location. Client confidentiality is a priority for us; Regulus Counseling utilizes a secure, HIPAA-compliant platform.
Once you have been accepted as a client, your clinician will send you an invitation to join our secure video conferencing platform, via email. Once you have accepted the invitation, you will need to download the application onto your device. After downloading the application, you will need to create an account, in which you will be able to conveniently exchange secure, encrypted, HIPAA-compliant communications with your clinician (video sessions, messages, and voicemails).
Your clinician will also send you an invitation, via email, to create an account on a secure, HIPAA-compliant client portal. Once you have created your account, your clinician will send you a new client packet, via the client portal, prior to your scheduled appointment.
The new client documents include:
• Adult Intake Form
• Clinician Disclosure Form
• HIPAA Privacy Policy
• Insurance Information
• Credit Card Authorization Form
• Telehealth Consent Form
• Release of Information Form
(optional at time of intake appointment)
• Other pertinent documents
All documents must be filled out in completion, signed, and returned to your clinician at least 48 hours prior to your scheduled appointment; otherwise, you will not be seen.
Tele-therapy sessions will be conducted through our video conferencing platform. Only your clinician can initiate the call to you. We recommend that you be logged in a few minutes prior to your scheduled appointment time, to accept the video call.
SECURE ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS
Electronic communications with Regulus Counseling and your clinician will be exchanged through our HIPAA-compliant platform, in which messages, texts, and voicemails will all be secure, encrypted, and HIPAA-compliant. Please note that the platform does not offer secure email. We will not respond to emails from this platform, for client protection.