How Do I Keep Myself And My Clients Safe?
by Lindsay Roadnight
last updated: 01/08/2021
This is Part 2 of a 6 Part mini-series on things to consider when thinking about returning to face to face sessions.
There’s a massive amount of information about COVID-19 and much of it is contradictory and confusing, particularly for those of us who don’t have a PhD in biochemistry / virology.
The starting point here is YOU.
You need to think about what makes you feel safe and comfortable. The pandemic has affected all of us differently and perhaps it’s brought out a whole new set of thoughts and behaviours that you never previously had.
The thought of going out and mixing with others might fill you with dread. When you see gatherings of people on TV the thought of how close everyone is and how easy it would be to infect others or get infected horrifies you. If that’s where you’re at that’s ok! Maybe you’re not ready to go back yet.
On the other hand, if you’re feeling safe enough to consider going back to work, the likelihood is that you’ve already been out and about a bit since the lockdown easing started. Think about your interactions when you’re out and about. What makes you feel more / less safe?
As private practitioners, it’s up to us how we run our business. You’re free to use as much PPE as you’d like. BUT that also means you’re free to use as little as you’d like. Once again, there’s no hard and fast rule. No one ‘right’ way. You might want to ask clients to wear masks, you might prefer the idea of a see through screen. You might be happy enough with the distance you can get between your chairs.
Start with what makes you feel comfortable and safe and then offer the decision over to your clients and let them have the autonomy to make their own choice.
This article is part of a series ‘Returning to Face To Face Sessions‘. You can view the other articles in this series here:
- Part 1 – Thinking Of Returning To Face To Face Sessions
- Part 2 – How Do I Keep Myself And My Clients Safe?
- Part 3 – What About Insurance?
- Part 4 – What Are The Guidelines?
- Part 5 – How Do I Do A Risk Assessment?
- Part 6 – What Do I Include In A COVID Disclaimer?