COVID-19 Update | Vida Relationships

COVID-19 UPDATE

We are now open for a limited return to in-person counselling services.

To prioritize the health and safety of everyone, online, video and tele-therapy sessions are still the preferred method of counselling delivery, as recommended by the BC Government’s Restart Plan.

We would remind you that our online counselling platform (doxy.me) is compliant with Canadian privacy laws, has end-to-end encrypted video and is of high audio and video quality. Many of our clients have found this platform an excellent way to receive counselling support in recent months. You can learn more about how tele-therapy works by visiting our online counselling webpage: https://www.vidarelationships.com/online-counselling-telehealth

Before coming into our office for any in-person appointment, it is important you review our In-Person Counselling Protocols below.

To book in-person counselling appointments, please email us at info@vidarelationships.com, call us at 604.307.6050 or visit our online booking site at https://vidarelationships.janeapp.com/

Vida Relationships COVID-19 In-Person Counselling Protocols

If you attend in-person counselling at our offices, we request you adhere to the following protocols:

Complete our COVID-19 Informed Consent Form related to obtaining in-person counselling services, prior to attending in-person sessions. For the health and safety of everyone, clients in high risk categories (age, existing underlying health conditions, immune compromised etc.) will be declined in-person counselling services.

Complete a short COVID-19 Pre-Screening Survey before every in-person appointment. This very short survey will be sent to your email address before your first appointment and should be completed before every appointment. It is very important you fill this out this survey on the day of each appointment.

Where possible, minimize the risk of potential transmission by travelling to your appointment in your own personal transport (i.e. your own car), and avoid public and/or shared transportation where possible.

Come to your appointment alone, refraining from bringing children, partners, friends, family members and associates to your appointment.

Wait for your appointment outside the building in order to minimize social contact in the small waiting area at our office. When you are outside the building, please text, email or call your counsellor to announce your arrival. Your counsellor will come and collect you from outside the building when we are ready for your appointment.

Please note, our office building protocols require ALL visitors to wear a face mask upon entry to, and exit from, the building. This includes the lobby, stairwells and all common areas such as bathrooms, elevators and hallways. Masks are also required to be worn during your in-person counselling sessions and your counsellor will discuss this and their specific individual requirements in your first session.

Wash your hands prior to your appointment and use the hand sanitizer we will provide prior to entering and leaving the counselling office.

Maintain a physical distance of 2 metres (approximately 6 feet) from anyone in the building and counselling office at all times.

Ensure good respiratory etiquette by covering the mouth and nose with the crease of the elbow, or with a disposable tissue when coughing or sneezing.

We ask you pay for your session prior to your appointment via e-transfer, or at the appointment using credit card stored on file in our booking system. We will NOT be accepting cash, cheques or swiped credit card transactions at this current time.

Cancel or reschedule your appointment if you develop symptoms, or have a family member who has confirmed or suspected COVID-19. You will be reminded of this policy when you arrive for your appointment.

In our commitment to the health and safety of all, and in accordance with health regulations and guidelines, all counsellors at Vida Relationships will:

Ensure that all in-person appointments are scheduled and staggered to allow time to sanitize common touch surfaces between appointments and to minimize contact with others.

Remove non-essential items from our office and treatment areas, such as water, disposable cups, magazines, booklets, pamphlets, and complimentary phone chargers.

Please note: It is recommended you bring your own sealable water container should you require refreshment in the session. Please do not bring in food, coffee cups or any other consumables into session. We will not be providing any drinks or liquids in the office at this time

Arrange the seating in our counselling office space in accordance with physical distancing guidelines (i.e. seating will be a minimum of 2 metres apart from each other).

When possible and applicable, keep windows in our office space open to increase airflow during and between sessions, and/or have a HEPA air purification unit in operation during your appointment.

Consider implementing alternative forms of treatment that do not require physical contact, by modifying and adapting our therapeutic techniques to exclude any form touch therapy and therapy that might involve closer contact, or the spreading of potentially infectious droplets.

Clean and sanitize common touch services in our counselling office space before, between and after appointments.

Wash and sanitize our hands before and after each in-person appointment.

Ensure used tissues, disinfectant wipes, and safety equipment are properly disposed of in a lined waste receptacle that is emptied at least daily.

Cancel or reschedule your appointment if we develop symptoms, or have a family member who has confirmed or suspected COVID-19. Should this occur, your counsellor will inform you directly ASAP.

Maintain a physical distance of 2 metres (approximately 6 feet) from anyone in the office building and from you in the counselling office at all times.

Use alternative forms of greetings and avoid hand shaking or close contact. We will greet you before the appointment from a distance of 2 metres or more, and similarly bid you farewell after an appointment following the same protocols.

We reserve the right to refuse in-person counselling services if any of the above protocols are not adhered to.