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<b>Informed Consent for Telehealth Sessions</b>
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<b>Telehealth Defined</b>
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Telehealth is a mode of healthcare services via telecommunications technology. You as the client can talk to your provider from anywhere with internet connection.
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<b>Benefits</b>
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Telehealth allows you to meet your therapist anywhere, including the comfort of your own home. </li>
<li>You may use your smartphone, computer, or telephone. Please note that both video and audio conferencing is known to be the most effective form of care for telehealth. </li>
<li>You minimize exposure to the COVID-19 virus and other illnesses that may be spread by potential exposure in a healthcare setting.</li>
<li>Telehealth can be accessed immediately, opposed to driving to our location. </li>
<li>There is no difference in price for a telehealth service compared to in-person therapy. </li></ul>
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<b>Considerations</b>
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Telehealth does not always feel as natural for clients who are accustomed to face-to-face therapy. </li>
<li>Your therapist may advise against teletherapy if they feel that it may impair your mental health care. </li>
<li>Telehealth is not as useful for those who are hearing or cognitively impaired. </li>
<li>Be sure to find an area that allows for the best internet connection for you and test your audio prior to session. </li>
<li>Technical problems may interrupt or stop therapy services before they are done. In the event that this occurs, your therapist will develop a plan with you to either attempt to call back or add the additional time to another session. </li>
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<b>Confidentiality and Telehealth</b>
<ul><li>Your therapist respects your privacy and aims to maintain confidentiality by meeting you with headphones, in a secure room with a closed door. You, as the client, may not always have access to a secure space with headphones. Due to this, we cannot always guarantee complete privacy. </li>
<li>Your therapist will use a HIPAA secure platform for session, which allows the information shared and stored to be protected. </li>
<li>We recommend using an internet network that is private and secure for telehealth services. </li>
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<b>Consent for Telehealth Services</b>
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I have read and understand all the information provided above in its entirety. I have read both the benefits and considerations of using telehealth for therapy services. I understand that the therapist will aim to maintain confidentiality at all times and that it is my responsibility to find a private spot to maintain confidentiality at my location during telehealth services. I understand that I can choose to opt out of services at any time and that my agreement to participate in therapy services is completely voluntary.
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