From Thursday 5th November, England will go into a second national Lockdown. This has brought up many questions and once again has many counsellors questioning what is / isn’t legal and what we can / can’t do.
Do I need to shut down?
It is important to remember that counselling services were never formally instructed to shut down during the original lockdown earlier in the year. The original lockdown was far more wide ranging, so logic would dictate that we will be allowed to continue offering face to face sessions.
Should I continue f2f sessions?
This is a very personal question and there is no universal ‘right’ answer. The answer will very much depend on your own specific circumstances as well as your clients’ circumstances. I think about it in the following steps:
- What are my legal obligations?
- What is the professional advice?
- What are my own feelings?
- What about my clients?
What are my legal obligations?
As covered above, read the guidance for your specific country. It is highly unlikely that counselling / therapy services will be instructed to close. Generally, we are allowed to continue operating as long as we are providing a COVID secure environment.
Although it’s not quite a legal requirement, I would consider your insurance situation under this heading. If you are a member of a professional organisation, then it is likely to be a requirement that you have appropriate insurance. Check with your insurance company to make sure they’re covering you for continuing in person sessions. Do not rely on word of mouth for this reassurance, try and get it in writing from your provider. My insurance providers included an update on their website during the previous lockdown.
What is the professional advice?
Professional advice can come from your supervisor, your membership organisation, your local business chamber of commerce or even places like your landlord (if you rent a room). Check what recommendations they have in place and if they have any requirements from you. Remember, advice is just that. Your private practice is your business, so ultimately it is your call.
What are my own feelings?
I think this is often an area that can be overlooked in business, particularly when the business is counselling / therapy. We get used to putting our clients’ needs first, but this is an area where I truly believe you need to consider your own situation. Think about your own health, your age and any medical conditions and then think about your household or anyone you support. By continuing to see clients, you are increasing the possibility of exposure to the virus and therefore increasing your household exposure. It is definitely something to think carefully about.
What about my clients?
Once you have made your decision, it is important to recognise that the client is likely to have a similar decision making process. It is all very well for us to say that we are classed as essential and clients can leave their houses for ‘medical reasons’, but not everyone sees counselling / therapy as medical. Be clear with your clients about what you are offering them and what you require from them.
If you don’t already have a COVID agreement in place with your clients, I would suggest drawing one up now. You can download my template for a COVID agreement by joining my mailing list.
Be kind to yourself and others
It feels almost a bit ridiculous to write this, but there are many forums where private practitioners can discuss these sorts of issues and I see so much judgement from others. I hope this post has helped you see what a unique position we are currently in and how much your own situation needs to be taken into account. We may all be in the same storm, but we are in significantly different vessels!
