COVID-19 Information

This is a situation that continues to change and develop, but I will endeavour to keep this as up to date as I can. If you have any questions or concerns please don't hesitate to reach out.

If you don't feel well, please stay home!

There will be no penalty for cancellations on short notice. For the health and safety of everyone involved, please act on the side of caution and stay home if you have reason to suspect you may have COVID-19 or you have been in contact with someone who does.

If you are part of a vulnerable demographic including:

People experiencing secondary health concerns such as autoimmune conditions
People over the age of 60
Residential home residents

Guidelines strongly recommend that you forgo treatment due to the increased risk. Please review this information so you can make an informed choice about proceeding with treatment.

https://www.gov.nl.ca/covid-19/files/Information-for-Adults-over-60-and-Individuals-with-Chronic-Conditions.pdf

The Clinic Space

For the time being, psychotherapy appointments will be conducted by phone or over online video conferencing. In the next phase of provincial re-opening, I hope to provide socially distanced in-person therapy services. Online or phone contact is a great way to stay connected when conditions prevent meeting in person, but psychotherapy greatly benefits from physical presence sharing space with others.

My office is a dedicated space that I can have a great deal of control over. There is no waiting room and all surfaces (doorknobs, chairs, table, etc.) are sanitized between clients. Clients are scheduled at least 30 minutes apart to allow time for cleaning. Linens and towels are kept in sealed containers, changed between clients, and washed between uses.

For the time being, receipts will be provided by email. I encourage you to consider paying by e-tranfer, but I will also continue to accept debit, credit cards, and cash (exact change is appreciated).

What to Expect as a Client

You have rights and responsibilities as a client. Guidelines released by the College of Massage Therapists of Newfoundland and Labrador (CMTNL) require that you, as a client, wear a mask. The mask must be well fitted and cover your nose and mouth. It can be homemade or disposable. You are also allowed to adjust the mask in the face-down or prone position to ensure that you can breathe comfortably.

Please wash your hands, avoid touching your face, and use hand sanitizer if you touch your mask or face.

Please shower and dispose of/wash your mask as soon as possible upon returning home.

You will be contacted 24 hours before your appointment to touch base with the following screening questions:

Do you have a confirmed case of COVID-19 or have you had close contact with a confirmed case of COVID-19?

Have you travelled outside Canada in the last 14 days?

Have you had close contact with anyone with an acute respiratory illness in the last 14 days?

If you are over 65 years of age, are you experiencing any of the following:
- delirium
- falls
- acute functional decline
- worsening of chronic conditions

Are you experiences any of the following symptoms:
- cough/new onset of cough/worsening chronic cough
- fever/signs of fever (temperature of 37.8°C or greater)
- headache
- sore throat
- hoarse voice
- nasal congestion or runny nose
- shortness of breath
- difficulty swallowing
- decrease or loss of sense of smell
- chills
- unexplained fatigue/malaise
- diarrhea
- abdominal pain or nausea/vomiting, nasal congestion

Answering "yes" to any of these questions does not constitute a positive case of COVID-19. I am in no way qualified to diagnose this. I am, however, qualified to give you the phone number to get in touch with people who can assess you. If you answer "yes" to 2 or more of these questions, please call 811 for guidance from public health.

You have the right to refuse or end treatment at any time. This includes if you feel that these guidelines are not being followed or if you feel you are unable to follow these guidelines.

What to expect from your therapist

As a therapist, I also have rights and responsibilities. I am also required to wear a mask for massage therapy. At this time, guidelines do not allow therapists to wear homemade masks. We are also not required to wear the N95 masks that are needed by frontline medical staff in high-risk environments. I will be wearing a medical mask as well as eye protection, as required by the CMTNL. I will also be wearing an apron/gown that covers the front of my body to mid-thigh and will be changed in between clients.

At this stage, the CMTNL is allowing treatment with skin to skin contact and strongly recommending the use of gloves. If you are uncomfortable with skin to skin contact (forearms and elbows are a big part of most massage treatments) please let me know and we can modify your treatment to work through layers of fabric. I will check in during your appointment to make sure you are comfortable.

I will be asking myself the same assessment questions that I am asking you and taking my temperature daily. If I experience any risk factors I will cancel all in-person appointments and be in touch with the Department of Health to find out what next steps I should take.

What happens if you have contact with COVID-19

If you have seen me for an appointment and you or someone in your home contracts COVID-19 please contact me. Your personal information will not be shared with anyone outside your care team.

If I find out that I have had contact with COVID-19 I will immediately cancel all in-person appointments. My next step would be to get in touch with the Department of Health to get direct instruction about what to do next. All affected clients will be contacted by some combination of myself, the CMTNL, and the Department of Health.

. We're all in this together, so let's be kind, take care of one another, and stay safe .

More information can be found at https://www.gov.nl.ca/covid-19/