Back to the Office for In Person Counseling!

Dear Clients,

We are excited and eager to announce that some of our Clinicians will be in the office for in-person sessions as of July 1, 2021. As we do so, we will continue to adhere to all local, state, and federal guidelines related to COVID-19 to assure our continued safety and health. Here are some of the steps we are taking in this regard: 

  • Hand sanitizer is available in the office. 
  • Masks are available upon request and is up to your Clinician and your discretion.
  • At this time we do not have a waiting area. We ask that you simply text message your Clinician upon arrival, and wait in your car or outside. They will text/call you when ready to start your session.
  • We have arranged office furniture to add some physical space between us.
  • We clean and sanitize the office after each client session.

We are happy to share that all of our Clinicians are fully vaccinated. If your age and health allow, and if you’re not yet vaccinated, we strongly encourage you to do so. You may also discuss your concerns or questions with your Clinician. Vaccines are available in your local area and we can assist you in finding a location that you feel comfortable with. As with any other medical information you provide, your vaccination status is treated as confidential, and is subject to the privacy and confidentiality protections that apply to other protected health information.

If, for any reason, you would prefer that your Clinician wear a mask during our sessions, please let us know and we are happy to do so. If, for any reason, you’re uncomfortable returning to the office for in-person care, please let us know, and we can continue providing telehealth sessions.

In addition, please cancel your in-person appointment within 24 hours and stay home if any of the following apply:

  • You have experienced cough, fever, shortness of breath, chills, or other symptoms of COVID-19 or other communicable illness in the past 48 hours. Note: If any such symptoms are evident in the office, I may ask you to return home immediately.
  • You are isolating or quarantining because you tested positive for COVID-19 or are worried that you may be sick with COVID-19.
  • You are unvaccinated and have been in close contact in the past 14 days with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19 or who has displayed symptoms of COVID-19.
  • You are unvaccinated and are currently waiting on the results of a COVID-19 test. 
  • You are unvaccinated and have traveled (on a trip lasting at least overnight) in the past 10 days.

We may require any scheduled in-person session to be moved to telehealth. To the degree possible, we will provide reasonable advance notice in any such instances. As public health guidance is changing quickly, these policies and practices will continue to evolve. We will inform you as soon as possible of such changes. Our highest priority is your ongoing safety, health, and comfort when visiting the office. We appreciate the opportunity to work with you, and are grateful that we can once again do so in person.

COVID-19 Resources

PABC does not recommend anyone feed into the negativity or conspiracy theories that we all read online. We also recommend that negative social media and news outlets are limited to maintain a stable overall mental health regarding COVID-19. The only resources that we recommend following for up-to-date information on safety and prevention methods are the Michigan Health Department, WHO and CDC.

For the most up-to-date information on possible vaccines, treatments, FAQs, news and more, please visit the following official health organizations:

For the most up-to-date information on how to keep yourself and others safe in the workplace, please visit the U.S. Department of Labor.

Testing and COVID-19 Vaccinations

Testing
If you think you have been exposed to COVID-19 and develop symptoms such as fever, cough or difficulty breathing, call your healthcare provider for medical advice. They will decide whether you need to be tested. People at higher risk for serious illness from COVID-19 should contact their healthcare provider early, even if their illness is mild.

Vaccinations 
COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective. After you’ve been fully vaccinated, you can start to do some things that you had to stop doing because of the pandemic. Everyone 12 years of age and older is now recommended to get a COVID-19 vaccination. Widespread vaccination is a critical tool to help stop the pandemic. Read CDC’s statement.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration extended the Emergency Use Authorization for the Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus vaccine to adolescents 12 through 15 years old, opening the U.S. vaccination campaign to millions more people. A meeting with the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) Wednesday, May 12th, reviewed data and recommended the use of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccines in adolescents 12-15 years under the EUA.

Many have been eagerly awaiting the chance to vaccinate their children since Pfizer announced results from its trial in adolescents showing the vaccine is at least as effective in that age group as it is in adults. Vaccinating children is key to raising the level of immunity in the population and limiting the spread of COVID-19.

CDC and MDHHS release resources for adolescents, parents, guardians, and clinicians on the COVID-19 vaccine
Your questions matter regarding COVID-19 vaccination. It is important to make an informed decision and feel confident about getting yourself a your family vaccinated against COVID-19. Below are list of resources providing information about vaccinating minors and tips to answer your questions.