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Dear Clients:
With the recent global awareness concerning the COVID-19, we want to communicate some helpful information about how we our preparing and improving our services in case of a potential larger impact in our area and the United States. Our top priority is always the health and safety of our entire community.
Clients of Roanoke Valley Counseling Center can now connect to their counselors via video conference or telephone. In the coming week, we will send you an email with access to our HIPAA secured portal where you can update any necessary forms to take advantage of this service.
That same portal connects with video chat if you should ever choose to utilize this service. Its simple, intuitive and efficient.
If you are already scheduled for an office session, simply call your therapist and ask for the session to be switched to online whenever you choose. They will send you the portal access information and directions via email. Now, you can talk with your therapist, from a laptop, smart phone or any devise with video conferencing capability.
We are cleaning our office space and disinfecting each evening, but preventing the spread of illness is a team effort. We encourage all clients to avoid contact with anyone who might be sick, wash your hands for 20 seconds prior to coming into our offices, cover coughs and sneezes, and avoid touching your nose, eyes, or mouth. If you choose, you are welcome to wait in your car prior to your appointment, and we will call you when it's time to come into our office.
If you have any questions or concerns about any of the above information, please call your therapist directly, or our main number, and we would me more than happy to help.
Very truly yours.
Your Team at Roanoke Valley Counseling Center, LLC
Frequently asked questions
1. Who will the portal invitation email be from?
The email will come from Roanoke Valley Counseling Center so it will be easy for you to identify as a legitimate email from us.
2. What do I do once I get the email?
The email will tell you your username and password. It will also give you a link which says, “Click here to log into our client portal”. Once you’ve logged in, you will be prompted to change your password. Be sure to record your log in information safely so you can assess your client portal for any video appointments or to update your information. The process is very simple from there. You will be asked to esign your client forms and you can check your personal information is correct. Your intake information can also be updated so let us know how you are feeling at the moment. You can even add your credit card information to ease the payment process.
3. Will my insurance company pay for online counseling?
Almost all insurance plans now reimburse for online counseling. We always advise our clients to check with their health insurance plan personally to better understand your benefits.
4. How does the video conferencing work?
You can request a video (also called telehealth) appointment with your therapist anytime, but you should be sure you’ve checked your client portal to give us permission to send you emails. You can call us and we will walk you through how to do this if you need any help.
Your therapist will send you an email with the date and time of your telehealth appointment and appointment reminders, all of which will contain your link to online counseling. You do not need to download any additional software on your computer to use telehealth. If you are using an Android or IPhone, you can download a free “Telehealth by Simple Practice” App from the Itunes or Android App Stores.
At the time of your appointment, open your video link from your email, Telehealth will then open in your browser. You can choose your camera and microphone, and join your therapist for your session.