DURING “SHELTER IN PLACE” ORDERS and social distancing mandates in illinois, the state has made it possible for more practices to offer telehealth or phone session services during this time.

What is Telehealth?
Telehealth appointments are video sessions that are made available over the internet— so through your laptop, computer, tablet, or mobile device, you can connect with your therapist even at times when you cannot make it into the office.

Are Telehealth sessions secure?
All Telehealth sessions are conducted through HIPAA-compliant software.

How do I access the Telehealth session?
Upon making a Telehealth appointment, your therapist will send you an email confirmation with all information needed to access the session. 10 minutes prior to the appointment time, you will receive an additional email with the session log-in information as well.

What equipment do I need to do in order to have a Telehealth session?

You will need one of the following:
∙Desktop computer with webcam, speakers, a 2.5 GHz processor, and 4GB of RAM
∙Laptop computer with built-in webcam and speakers, a 2.5 GHZ processor, and 4 GB of RAM
∙Tablet device with built-in webcam and speakers
∙Smartphone with at least iOS10 or Android 7.0 (note: to use a smartphone, you must first download the Telehealth by SimplePractice App— available for download in the app store for Apple or Android)
∙Internet connection that is at least 10mbps (for optimal results, a reliable, high-speed internet connection is recommended).

What if I don’t feel comfortable with a video Telehealth session?
If you do not feel comfortable or do not have the equipment to have a video session, we do currently also offer phone sessions.

Can I always just do a Telehealth session instead of in-office sessions?
During the COVID-19 crisis, the Illinois Governor and other agencies have made it possible for insurance providers to accept a much broader range of mental health care session types. While currently we are able to offer this service, after COVID-19 regulations have changed, we cannot guarantee your insurance will cover this type of visit.

For additional questions about Telehealth or to schedule an appointment, please contact your primary therapist or contact our office at: office@picaassoc.net

For answers to additional Frequently Asked Questions regarding Telehealth, or for more detailed information on how Telehealth sessions work, please click on the button below: