Coronavirus Measures for Face-to-Face Counselling
Counselling is usually face-to-face at my counselling room in Leicester city centre. However, I am also continuing to offer online counselling and if that is not possible, phone counselling.
Any contact with someone else carries a risk of either person contracting Covid-19, particularly when indoors and sitting opposite each other for a period of time. Therefore, face-to-face counselling in person does carry some coronavirus risk. It is important that you consider your level of risk to assess whether in-person counselling is appropriate for you. Things you might want to consider are:
- If, and how many, doses of the vaccine you have had; or
- Whether you have tested positive for coronavirus within the last 6 months so giving some immunity;
- Whether you have a medical condition that makes you clinically vulnerable.
If you feel seeing each other face-to-face is not sensible for you at the moment, online counselling is still available.
Coronavirus Safety Measures
To reduce the level of risk of seeing each other in person, I am fully vaccinated and I am:
- Regularly disinfecting the surfaces in the counselling room, including the soft furnishings
- Ventilating the counselling room
- Ensuring the seating is such that we can sit a safe distance apart
- Providing hand sanitizer in the counselling room
- Providing separate tissue boxes for each client per day
- Emptying the waste bin between each client
Continuing Counselling During Coronavirus Symptoms
For the safety of both of us, if either of us experience symptoms that could indicate coronavirus, test positive for coronavirus or have been asked to self-isolate, it is preferable that we do not meet face-to-face. For clarity, the main symptoms of coronavirus are:
- A new, persistent dry cough
- A fever
- A loss of sense of taste or smell
If we cannot hold a counselling session face-to-face, we must let the other know and we can continue with counselling during this time by another method. This will be assumed to be online (Zoom). However, some people do prefer telephone, and if that is the case, please let me know.
