The world has continued to change and react to the global pandemic that has shaped this past year and a half. We could not imagine the ripple effects that COVID-19 would have back in March of 2020, and just how long it would take to return to something more familiar. Thank you for your commitments to growth, healing, and transformation during these unprecedented times.
The recent news has given cause for celebration as vaccination rates are on the rise while positivity rates continue to decline in Baltimore City and across the State of Maryland. More than 60% of residents have received at least a single dose in Baltimore and over 75% statewide with the positivity rates well below 1% for some time now. These positive indicators have led to both the Governor and the Mayor lifting the mask mandates as of July 1.
As a result, we are ready to provide more opportunities for you to be seen in person starting August 1. We will be continuing with virtual appointments as our primary modality for now but will add additional in-person sessions depending upon your and your therapist’s availability and comfortability. These sessions will be scheduled and prioritized by the therapists using availability and clinical need as the criteria.
If you would like to be seen in person, we ask that you book your telehealth appointment through the client portal. Then reach out to your therapist and request they change the appointment to an in-person session. They will either update your appointment location, provide alternative dates/times for an in-person visit, or ask that you keep your appointment as telehealth for now. We remain hopeful and cautious about these changes and progress in the fight against COVID-19. In conjunction with the CDC and the prevailing wisdom of health experts, it is recommended that if you are not fully vaccinated that you continue to wear a mask when in public spaces, especially indoors. Our entire staff has been fully vaccinated.
The following health protocols have been updated and apply to all in-person sessions. We ask that you keep them in mind and note how they will impact your visit.
In-Office Visit
- If you feel symptomatic on the day of your visit, reschedule it or contact your therapist to convert it to a video session;
- Masks are now optional, but encouraged if you are not fully vaccinated;
- Your therapist will greet you in the waiting room, provide you space to come in, and show you where you can comfortably sit during your session;
- Hand sanitizer will be available before and after your session;
- The Rotunda has increased cleaning schedules and airflow and filtration throughout the building.
Amy Price, MA, LCPC
Clinical Director