Current as of
Our offices and suites are also fully open for in-person services as we follow the latest guidelines.
In-Person Procedures
Please be sure to bring your cell phone to your appointment, as new steps may include additional call-ins or text updates during your:
- Arrival
- Wait
- Checkout
Despite any new distancing, our care and dedication to you are unwavering.
Evaluating Possible Symptoms
Common symptoms of COVID-19 can range from mild to severe, and include fever and cough, headache, muscle ache, chills, a sore throat, a runny nose or congestion, a sick stomach, a recent loss of taste or smell, shortness of breath and trouble breathing. Read more about symptoms here
If you feel unwell and think you might be experiencing COVID-19, please stay home to protect yourself, people in your community and your friends here at the Center.
When possible, we are glad to reschedule with a telemedicine session, and any short-notice cancellation fees are waived at this time.
Responsibilities to Protect Each Other
Each of us can help prevent the spread of the Coronavirus disease as we resume our daily activities.
Keeping us informed and updated; covering a cough and sneeze; washing your hands with soap and water; and avoiding touching your eyes, nose and mouth can make all the difference.
We will be sure to do our best with sanitation dispensers, rigorous cleaning and disinfecting of high-touch surfaces and the careful following of suggestions from the CDC, EPA, APA and related professional advisory bodies.
Our New Procedures
About our previous Informed COVID-19 Consent Form
Clients NO LONGER need to complete an informed COVID-19 consent form before resuming in-person services. This form was previously completed online , or the day of first in-person appointment, or downloaded and printed here
Before Your Arrival
Before your visit the Center, please consider how you are feeling and any symptoms that may be a cause for concern. Significant symptoms are listed below. A temperature higher than 100 °F will require us to ask you to please go home. All short-notice cancellation fees are waived at this time; we would much rather keep you safe and our community safe! If possible, your therapist will also gladly perform a remote session.
State and federal guidelines NO LONGER require a face mask or covering
The CDC recommends wearing gloves when cleaning or caring for someone who is sick, but not during daily situations outside your home. The best preventative action is continued hand-washing. We provide dispensers with hand sanitizers throughout our facility.
All of our counseling suites are always private.
Checking-in at Your Arrival
Clients DO NOT need to remain in their cars or outside the building before their appointments, and NO LONGER need to phone or text their therapist at their arrival.
To avoid unnecessary contact between clients, our therapists may stagger appointments at different times, and with increases in space.
The waiting room is available at your preference and visitors may now accompany you.
Before Your Session Begins
Before your session begins, your therapist may ask how you are feeling, and may screen you with a checklist for COVID-19 symptoms.
Depending upon the guidelines and circumstances, your therapist may additionally ask to check your temperature using a contact-free infrared thermometer. Out of an abundance of caution, if your temperature is higher than 100 °F your therapist is required to ask you to leave and to please stay home while you monitor your symptoms. We will do our best to accommodate you with a virtual telemedicine session.
During Your Session & After
Tissues, non-touch trash bins and hand sanitizer are available during your session.
When your session concludes, your therapist will perform any necessary checkout for you in their suite or in the administrative office.
Evaluating Possible Symptoms
Symptoms appear 2-14 days after exposure to the virus that causes COVID-19, and can include:
• Elevated Temperature / Fever Beginning at 100°F
• Chills
• Coagulation Abnormalities (covid toes: pink, red or blue toes accompanied by tenderness, swelling or itch; chilblains, sores)
• Congestion or Runny Nose
• Cough
• Dermatological Abnormalities (hives, a measles-like rash on the chest, back, arms or legs)
• Fatigue
• Headache
• Gastrointestinal Problems including Nausea, Vomiting, Diarrhea or Abdominal Pain
• Inner Mouth / Oral Cavity Lesions (Enanthem)
• Muscle Pain
• New Loss of Smell or Taste
• Shortness of Breath or Difficulty Breathing
• Sore Throat
This list does not cover all possible symptoms. When in doubt, please call your medical provider.
Please seek immediate medical care if you are experiencing emergency warning signs, which include:
• Trouble breathing
• Persistent pain or pressure in the chest
• New confusion
• Inability to wake or stay awake
• Bluish lips or face
Symptoms range from mild to severe.
Most people are able to recover by staying home and receiving plenty of rest and hydration.
At this time the CDC recommends that, if you are experiencing symptoms, you do not leave your home except to get medical care. If possible, please separate yourself from other people and pets in your home. The virus is primarily spread from person to person through respiratory droplets produced by coughing, sneezing, or talking. Although less likely, the virus may also be spread through touching a surface or object with the virus on it, then touching your mouth, nose or eyes.
Please do not visit public areas and please do not try to make your appointment at the Center. Your therapist will be glad to perform a virtual telemedicine session instead.
Responsibilities to Protect Each Other
Keep Us Informed and Updated To Minimize Potential Exposure For Yourself and Others
If a resident of your home tests positive for the infection, please inform the Center for Counseling Arts and / or your individual therapist by phone or text; we will instead begin or resume treatment via telehealth, if possible.
If you have a job, responsibilities or activities that expose you to a high number of people, or people who are infected, please inform us during scheduling.
Clean Your Hands Frequently
At your arrival please consider cleaning your hands with the sanitizer from the dispensers on our walls. During your session please try to refrain from touching your face with your hands. After blowing your nose, coughing, sneezing or related activities, please practice respectful hygiene by immediately cleaning your hands with the sanitizer provided by your therapist or with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Alcohol-based hand sanitizers with at least 60% alcohol, according to the CDC, work well as long as you are sure to cover all surfaces of your hands and rub them together until they feel dry. You can help keep yourself safe and protect others by this basic frequent practice.
Smart Preventatives
At this time a cloth face covering over your nose and mouth is NOT required when around other people outside your home and while vising the Center.
We will provide a face mask to a client in need, if desired.
The CDC does not recommend that you wear gloves while visiting us, however we are strongly urged to encourage you to wash your hands before taking a seat in one of our private counseling suites.
Regular Sanitation
At the Center high-touch surfaces are routinely cleaned with EPA-registered disinfectants. Our suites are equipped with alcohol-based hand rubs, tissues and trash bins.
Quarantine & Discontinuing Home Isolation
For those who experience symptoms, the CDC advises self-quarantine for at least 5 days.
The decision to stop home isolation should be made in consultation with your healthcare provider. Current CDC guidelines suggest home isolation can discontinue when meeting ALL of the following three conditions:
• At least 5 days have passed since your symptoms first began.
• You have had no fever for at least 24 hours, without the use of medicine that reduces fevers.
• Other symptoms have improved.
Our Previous Informed COVID-19 Consent Form
for In-Person Services During Covid-19 NO LONGER needs to be completed at this time.
You are welcome to download a PDF copy here
Have a question? We are happy to walk you through any step.
Please feel free to call us at 412-241-8552 or email us through our Secure Portal
The Center for Counseling Arts
Where the quality of care matters & counseling is an art