COVID-19 UPDATES AND OPERATIONS

Individual Counseling & Therapy, Couples Therapy & Marriage Counseling | Columbia, Mo

Update: 12/4/4/2020

Columbia, Mo mask ordinance is still in effect.

I haven’t written in a looong time about COVID-19

Update: 4/24/2020

The stay at home order for Columbia, Mo is in place until May 3rd, 2020.

Here’s what this means for you (and us): As of May 4th, 2020, each clinician will be able to come back into the office to see clients face to face if they so choose. Clinicians might make a decision to come back into the office and see clients face to face or they might continue doing online counseling and therapy until more of COVID-19 has evolved. If your clinician wants to come back in the office and you’d prefer to stay home and do online counseling and therapy, then that’s completely fine and you can continue doing that!

If you’re a current client, please check with your clinician regarding whether or not they’re seeing clients in person or online. If you’re looking for counseling services, please scope out our team to see who might be a good fit, contact us, and check whether your clinician is going to be in person or online.

Times keep changing, don’t they?! Be safe and be well - I’ll keep updating this page as things shift.

Warmly,

Tara

Counseling must go on!!

Sounds silly, but we’re serious. Counseling and therapy are a must for many clients, and it’s imperative (to us) that we offer ongoing services, period. There’s been a strong and urgent call for social distancing, and we’re going to try to respect this to the extent possible while also making sure our clients are getting what they need. Before we get to that, let me speak directly to why this is even something we’re talking about.

Okay, Tara, but aren’t you overreacting a little bit? Not that many people have died. (*as of 3/24/2020)

I get it!! Oh my gosh, I for real get this. On one hand, I (Tara, in this case [owner of the practice]) feel a little bit silly in my response and the plan moving forward given the lack of current positive tests in Columbia, Mo. So yes, I understand the skepticism. And here’s where I’m coming from.

I’ve been trying to stay informed of the situation without jumping to any immediate decision or conclusions and I can confidently say that I’m not panicked or fearful while making this decision (should you think that’s the case). I am definitely trying to act in a way that’s serving our clinicians, our clients, the larger community, and, realistically, the community infrastructure (i.e., healthcare system). In essence, my decision making is coming from a place where I’ve been relying on my trust in smart people (i.e., the CDC, medical doctors, infectious disease experts, mathematicians) rather than thinking I know better (I don’t).

I fully understand that the rate of death for most people and populations is low. I get this. The majority of cases are mild and the majority of people recover. Yes, this is fantastic news, but what’s not fantastic news is:

• the math regarding the exponential level of growth coupled with:

• the estimates of people who will need serious care

• the potential (probable, if things don’t change) lack of ability to care for those people who will need critical care based on our current healthcare system (no blame or condemnation, just synthesizing numbers), and

• the potential (probable, if things don’t change) lack of ability to then care for people who also need critical care (i.e., heart attacks, car accidents, broken bones) outside of COVID-19

It’s less about what is right now and more about what could be in a matter of weeks. And I should probably say what will be, if things don’t change.

Additionally, while most folks will recover and most cases are mild, the rate of death is 10x that of the regular flu and the people who are mostly dying are still people. As in, our loved ones, our grandparents, our friends with compromised immune systems, etc. People we love and care about. Even if the numbers seem small right now, there’s basically little guarantee they’ll remain small given all of the above (and more).

*I remember one person writing that we’re not good at thinking in a “logarithmic” fashion. In short, our brains don’t compute exponentially by default, but that’s the way we should be thinking about COVID-19. If I’m infected, I pass it to two people, they pass it to two people, they pass it to two people, and so on and so forth - that’s not how we tend to think, but it’s for sure the reality we’re seeing in other countries and in some states in the US. So then what would make us different? Probably nothing, hence this page and plan.

Current (Brief) Summary of COVID-19 (*as of 3/24/2020)

I’m fairly certain that you’ve heard about the COVID-19 global pandemic by this point, so I don’t want to rehash everything about it, but I do want to lay out my basic understanding of things so that you see where we’re coming from. I’d also encourage you to follow along with the CDC’s website as numbers continue to evolve and change on a daily basis. Additionally, here’s a fantastic website for following the data as it continues to evolve.

My basic understanding of the situation is that:

1. Most folks who test positive for COVID-19 are going to be mild cases. However, there are key populations and vulnerable populations who, when testing positive, have a significantly higher mortality rate (i.e., older adults, ongoing medical conditions).

2. There is no current vaccine and there will not be one in the immediate future.

3. The situation hasn’t peaked in the US yet and some sources say it’ll continue for about 2-3 more months (including peaking and coming back down).

4. Missouri hasn’t been impacted as much as some other states (i.e., New York, California, Washington). However, in Missouri as of 3/24/20, there have been 255 cases and 8 deaths (up from only five positive tests as of 3/15/2020).

5. COVID-19 is highly infectious and spreads very quickly and easily. People can be asymptomatic (i.e., no symptoms) and still be carriers and also still be responsible for passing along the infection. A recent article suggested that this is an important way the virus spreads (and not thought to be important initially).

Update from the City of Columbia: Stay At Home Order

This is important. Additionally and as of 3/24/2020, the City of Columbia has officially enacted a Stay At Home Order effective Wednesday, March 25th, 2020 through 8am on Friday, April 24th, 2020.

Why are you telling me all of this? What does it mean for my counseling?

Great questions. I’m telling you this because I want you to know, to some extent, where I’m coming from. I have way more thoughts on this all, but at least want to share with you some of them and the main drivers for decision making.

Here’s what it means. We’re an entirely online counseling & telehealth counseling practice starting officially on Thursday, March 19th, 2020 and going through 8am Friday, April 24th. Rest assured I’m going to be staying on top of the city, state, and federal recommendations regarding the situation and make sure everybody is updated about any changes that will take place at the practice.

This basically means that all of our sessions will be conducted online rather than in person. Our approach is what you would call “social distancing” in an attempt to “flatten the curve.” Our goal was to be back in session as soon as possible with people, but we’re more interested in alignment with any government recommendations that feed into public safety and trying to slow down the spread of infection for hospital capacity.

Isn’t this a bit extreme…?

To reiterate some of the above, this all might seem extreme. I understand that. I feel it, as well. There’s something about the level of shut down that’s occurring in the nation that feels somewhat absurd compared with current numbers (not future numbers). Bearing that in mind, I just keep going back to the projected numbers and to the experts, trusting that they’re waaaaaay more in the know than I am. But, I also get it, it might feel extreme. That’s okay if it does. Trust that we’re acting in the best way that we know how.

What’s the deal with online counseling & telehealth, then?

Great question. I’ve got two pages for you to check out. One is our online counseling & telehealth page itself and the other is an online counseling & telehealth FAQs page. Both created in an attempt to answer some (hopefully all) the questions you might have.

Your Role as a Client

Keep “showing up!!” Emotionally and mentally, of course. Not physically (see full page above).

Seriously, though. While online counseling & telehealth can feel weird and uncomfortable, it is absolutely as effective for counseling/therapy as in person sessions, and people report feeling pretty darn good about the work they’re doing. While it might seem weird initially, it actually goes well for most. And, realistically, the “weirdness” is about making the shift to online rather than the online counseling & telehealth experience. So, short version, you keep focusing on the work you’re doing in sessions.

COVID-19 Resources for Columbia Missourians

If you’re wondering about relevant resources for Columbia, Mo, then this is a small list to start.

Questions or Concerns?

Should you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to email us directly, reach out to our main line at 573-586-3204, or email your clinician (if you already have one!) to check in with them. They’ll be following up with you very shortly, so if you haven’t heard from them yet, check your spam folder but also please don’t hesitate to reach out! And if you’re new to the practice, click the button below to ask any questions you might have or to get set up with some counseling services. You might need it now more than ever!