IMPORTANT UPDATE REGARDING OUR SERVICES RELATED TO COVID-19
Due to COVID-19 and as a precautionary measure to our therapists and clients, we have transitioned all therapy appointments to telehealth or video conferencing as of 3/18/2020. We are continuing to accept new clients as well. There is good research (ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27993223 and ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3435873) supporting the use of teletherapy, and we have found it effective in the past with our work with clients who live further away, are unable to attend office appointments, or who may need treatment in their home. Teletherapy may be more effective than in office treatment in some cases because it allows us to do treatment where anxiety and OCD happens-in your home. This allows our clients to generalize treatment and make treatment gains quicker. Additionally, our therapists are not new to this mode of therapy and have advanced training in offering teletherapy. Please be assured that we will continue to be here to support you and your family through this time and to make the process as comfortable as possible.
The telehealth process is very simple, secure, and easy to use. It is similar to Facetime or Skype. You will receive an advance appointment reminder via text or email with the link for your telehealth video session. Your therapist will give you instructions on how to use the platform. If you are uncomfortable with a video session, we can offer a phone appointment as well.
In addition, related to insurance coverage, based on the Executive Order issued by Governor Pritzker on March 19, all health insurance issuers regulated by the Department of Insurance are to cover telehealth services in the same manner as in-office visits during this time as well. Therefore, you will be able to submit to insurance and get reimbursement in the same manner. We also recognize that people may be struggling financially and or lost jobs/insurance. We do not want finances to interfere with good treatment and will work with you to reduce the rate.
If you have questions about this process and/or would like to schedule an appointment, please feel free to call us at 630-522-3124 or email us at info@theocdandanxietycenter.com. We are here and happy to be able to continue to serve you.
Warmest regards,
The OCD & Anxiety Center Team
In order to keep you informed, we will continue to post articles and links from our own staff on our Blog and Practice News pages. For additional resources to help you cope with COVID and anxiety/OCD during this time, we recommend:
COVID-19 and OCD: https://iocdf.org
COVID-19 and anxiety: https://adaa.org/finding-help/coronavirus-anxiety-helpful-resources
Dr. Zayed providing useful tips for managing anxiety on WGN radio
