COVID-19 Update

Ensuring Your Health & Safety

In response to the evolving situation with COVID-19 in British Columbia, Oceanside Psychology Group is committed to keeping you and our clinicians, families, and communities safe. We offer online therapy (telehealth) using secure and encrypted videoconferencing platforms. We also offer in-person services through our Burnaby office. For in-person services, we have implemented protocols to ensure client access to services in the safest possible manner during this time and for the foreseeable future. COVID-19 safety protocols have been established based on direction and guidance from the College of Psychologists of British Columbia, Public Health Officials, and WorkSafeBC.

Telehealth Appointments

Client appointments are offered remotely via secure and easy-to-use videoconferencing platforms, such as Zoom. For clients who prefer online therapy, your therapist will send you a link via email that you will open to join the meeting. You will not have to download any software. If for some reason you have difficulties connecting to your video session, your therapist will call you at the phone number provided on your intake paperwork, and will assist you in connecting to the video platform or will offer to conduct the session by telephone. You may also ask your therapist about telephone sessions, if you prefer.

For clients who schedule online therapy appointments, you can also expect to be emailed a consent form specific to receiving telehealth services that outlines the types of concerns that people may have about this form of meeting. You will be asked to sign this form and return it to us by email prior to your first appointment.

Your therapist will conduct your appointment from a secure and confidential space. We strongly encourage you to similarly find a private space for the meeting where you will be comfortable discussing private matters without distraction, interruption, or the concern of being overheard by others.

In-Person Appointments

In addition to telehealth sessions, we offer in-person appointments at our physical office location. We ask that anyone attending the clinic adhere to the following:

Preparing to Come to the Clinic

• Only scheduled clients are permitted to enter the clinic. If you were driven, please ask the person who drove you to wait for you somewhere outside the clinic.
• Please do not enter the clinic if you:
1. Are experiencing fever, cough, sneezing, runny nose, sore throat, trouble breathing, loss of smell or taste, or extreme fatigue;
2. Live with someone who is experiencing any of the above symptoms;
3. Have been in close contact with someone who is confirmed to have, or is under investigation for, COVID-19; or
4. Have been advised to self-isolate or quarantine.

*Cancellation policy: We understand that sometimes unexpected events occur; however, it is often a challenge to fill an opening on short notice. Our goal is to provide high quality health care and your appointments are very important to us. Due to the high demand for appointments and out of respect for our clinicians and clients, it is our standard policy to require at least 48 business hours’ advance notice (two full business days excluding weekends and statutory holidays) for any cancellations or changes to your appointment (regardless of the reason, whether it be illness, emergency, work, or inclement weather). If a session is cancelled less than 48 business hours prior, clients are responsible for the full session fee. Our regular business hours are Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., excluding statutory holidays.

In addition, should you have an in-person appointment scheduled and be experiencing any of the above symptoms or sick with a cold, flu, or other contagious illness, we will be unable to meet with you in person and ask that you contact our office by phone or email to coordinate meeting with your therapist from your home by video or phone instead. In the event that you wish to forgo your session and less than 48 business hours’ notice is provided, we will try to fill the opening with a client from our cancellation list when possible. If we are able to do so, there will be no charge to you. If your appointment cannot be filled, you will be responsible for the fees.

Arrival at the Clinic

• Please enter the clinic no earlier than 20 minutes before your scheduled appointment time.
• Please use the hand sanitizer station immediately upon entering the clinic.
• Please do your best to socially distance, keeping 2 metres (6 feet) between you and others in the clinic.
• Masks are no longer required; however, you may wish to wear a mask in the common areas. If you expect you would be more comfortable wearing a mask during your sessions, we would encourage you to consider scheduling video sessions instead of in-person appointments as therapists rely heavily on non-verbal (including facial) expressions to guide their work, and are committed to delivering the highest quality services possible.

What to Expect:

• In-person appointments are being staggered to minimize congestion in the waiting areas.
• All high-frequency touch points in your therapist’s office (e.g., tables, doorknobs, chair arm rests) will be cleaned/disinfected after each appointment.

For more information on the support we offer, please contact us today.