Telehealth is the use of video and audio technologies used by licensed health care providers for the purpose of providing diagnosis, consultation, or treatment of their clients.

Use of Telehealth and Confidentiality

Our therapists provide telehealth services through a secure, HIPAA-compliant version of Zoom to conduct sessions. To be approved to provide telehealth sessions from their homes, our therapists must demonstrate adherence to approved safeguards aimed at protecting client confidentiality from unauthorized disclosure. They are also required to comply with federal and state privacy regulations, including HIPAA, as well as our practice's privacy policies.

Client Responsibilities

However, clients also bear responsibilities for securing their own safety and privacy during telehealth sessions. We advise the following measures:

• Choose a private and quiet location for your telehealth sessions to prevent overhearing or interruptions.

• Ensure a secure and stable internet connection to minimize the risk of unauthorized access or disruptions.

• Refrain from sharing sensitive personal information or discussing confidential matters in public or non-secure environments.

• Use headphones to maintain privacy and prevent others from overhearing your conversation.

• Keep your telehealth appointment link or access information confidential and refrain from sharing it with unauthorized individuals.

• Be aware that during group, couples, or family sessions, any messages sent using the Zoom chat feature can be seen by all participants in the session. Use discretion when sharing information in the chat, as it is not private or restricted to the therapist only.

• Promptly report any concerns about privacy or security breaches to your therapist or our practice for immediate action.

By adhering to these guidelines, you can help ensure your safety and privacy during telehealth sessions.

It depends. Therapists can only practice psychotherapy in states in which they are licensed. The location of the client at the time of their telehealth appointment is the state where the therapist is considered to be practicing in. All of our therapists are licensed to practice in Maryland State, however, some of our therapist have temporary waivers that allow them to provide telehealth to clients located in other states.

Please contact our Intake Coordinator to see if any of our therapists offer telehealth services in your state. If you are a current client and planning to be out-of-state for a session, please check first with your therapist to make sure they are approved to provide services in the state you will be in.

During Covid-19, some states have allowed out-of-state therapists to practice under a temporary waiver and under certain conditions. Because these exceptions are made on a state-by-state level, you will need prior approval from our office to work with one of our therapist if you live, or will be located, in any state other then Maryland during telehealth appointments.

We use a HIPAA compliant version of Zoom with end-to-end encryption, meaning we never store or access the video or audio content of your online therapy sessions.

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To join a telehealth session with your therapist you will need the following:

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• A computer, tablet, or phone

• An external or integrated webcam

• An external or integrated microphone

• Internet connection with a bandwidth of at least

  • 150 kbps to 450 kbps for 1:1 telehealth sessions

  • 225 kbps to 670 kbps for group telehealth sessions

You can check your internet speed here.

We recommend an Ethernet cable over Wifi when possible to ensure you

receive the best possible connection through your internet provider.

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Before joining your session, shut down all other background applications to ensure

that Zoom receives the majority of your internet’s bandwidth.

Yes. To join a Zoom meeting you will need to have the Zoom app installed on your computer or mobile device. Otherwise, you will be prompted to download and install Zoom when you click a join link. However, you are not required to sign up for a Zoom account to participated in telehealth sessions.

For desktop computers: Download Zoom Client for Meetings

For mobile phones or tablets: Go to Zoom Mobile Apps option and select one of the following buttons based on the type of device you have.

If you don't already have Zoom installed on your device,

we recommend installing it

at least one day before your session and then testing it to make sure it works. This will

give you time to troubleshoot if any issues come up.

Click Here for Easy Steps to Test Zoom

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No.

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Not all private health insurance plans cover therapy sessions through telehealth. During the Covid-19 pandemic, many insurance companies have expanded their coverage or issued temporary coverage through waivers. If we are in network with your insurance provider then we can contact them to verify your coverage. Remember that it is always best practice to call your insurance provider directly to confirm benefits and eligibility.

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There are 2 ways to join a telehealth session:

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1. Join using the link found in your appointment reminder email

You will get a total of 3 emails prior to your scheduled appointment with a one-time use link to join your meeting.

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First email is sent at the time your appointment is scheduled

Second email will be sent one day prior to the appointment

Third email will be sent as soon as your therapist signs into the session

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To join, click on one of these links at the time of your appointment

2. Join through your Insync patient portal account

Sign in to your patient portal

Find your upcoming appointment on the Home screen to join.

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​When your appointment is 15 minutes away from its' start time the green JOIN button will appear. Click it to join your session.

No. You will be emailed a new link for each telehealth session.

If you do not receive this link within 24 hours of your scheduled session, check your junk or spam mail.

• You must have signed the Informed Consent for Telehealth Services prior to your initial session.

• You must be located in the State of Maryland during your telehealth appointment unless you have received prior approval from our office.

• You must be appropriately dressed for the session (in other words, dress as you would if coming to our office for a session).

• You must be in a safe and private location.

• You must have adequate connection so that sessions are not disrupted.

• You must be in one place during the session (i.e. no driving or walking through town while on your session)