Counselors 'meet' with clients

SANDUSKY — Local mental health and addiction counselors are starting to conduct counseling sessions electronically for people who do not want to leave their homes during the COVID-19 crisis. For Bayshore Counseling Services, while their offices in Sandusky and Port Clinton remain open with CDC-recommended sanitation procedures in place, several of their counselors recently trained in "telehealth" — a term used to describe interactions with health care professionals and patients by way of technology, like phone and video calls, executive director Henrietta Whelan said. Bayshore is considered an essential health care provider. "I think a lot of clients are fearful about coming in (during the coronavirus pandemic)," Whelan said. "Being able to provide telehealth has erased some of the barriers." The counselors who completed telehealth training learned how to conduct long-distance counseling in an ethical manner, Whelan said. For example, counselors would ask their clients if there are any other people in the room or residence with them in case they don't want to discuss certain topics in front of that person. Another benefit of telehealth, Whelan said, is that it can be helpful to people who have added responsibilities or limitations during the coronavirus crisis. "With schools being closed, oftentimes, people who come to our agency don't have childcare or transportation," she said. Bayshore's counselors will conduct telehealth through phone calls or video calls, Whelan said. The agency has already let existing clients know about their new telehealth capabilities and are letting new clients know the first time they call their office. "A lot of people are very interested in it," she said. "We want to be able to help as many people in the community as we can, and we want people to continue to call and not be afraid because we do have this additional option." People can contact Bayshore at 419-626-9156.