In order to protect your safety as well as our staff’s, we have transitioned to telehealth services for the duration of the current COVID-19 outbreak until it’s safe to resume in-person meetings. Clients can communicate with our clinicians via video conferencing from their homes or wherever they can find a private place. Telemedicine is available for both psychiatry (medication management) and psychotherapy. Our highly skilled team of mental health providers offers compassionate and comprehensive care for patients during this stressful time. We will work with you to develop and manage a personalized treatment program. Our front office staff are working remotely as well and are available to help you as always.
Many of our patients are very familiar with telecommunication, but we understand that for others, it can take a little while. However, in our experience, almost everyone has been able to find a way to feel comfortable benefiting from services provided online. While some people prefer having their sessions over the phone, most patients and providers find that having a video connection enhances the therapeutic process. Also, insurance companies all have policies that cover telepsychiatry and teletherapy conducted using video, but will not reimburse for a phone appointment.
We’ve also put together a page with a variety of useful coping resources that we’ll be updating over time. Please click the button below to access it.
Contact Us Today
Bay Area:
(510) 545-9600
LA & Ventura Counties:
(818) 756-0050
The Federal Government has temporarily relaxed requirements for telemedicine during this crisis and is allowing telehealth meetings with patients via Facetime, WhatsApp, Skype and other online platforms. We will be transitioning telepsych services with our clinicians to using RingCentral Meetings, a HIPAA-compliant secure app on your phone or computer. It’s straightforward and you only have to download it once to be able connect quickly online for all future sessions. Hali or Jonna in our virtual “front office” will be glad to answer any questions about using RingCentral Meetings.
To download the RingCentral Meetings app for your device:
1) Visit the secure RingCentral website: https://www.ringcentral.com/apps/rc-meetings (opens in new tab).
2) Toward the top of the page, click on “Download for PC” or click the drop-down arrow and select the appropriate option for your device.
Teletherapy
Blue Sky Psychiatry is using teletherapy to continue to provide our clients with effective psychotherapy services, including individual, couples, and family therapy.
Living alone under normal circumstances has its benefits. But social distancing can exacerbate problems associated with loneliness like depression, anxiety, substance abuse and eating disorders.
Living with other family members or roommates can present different challenges. The fear of COVID-19 magnifies any tensions that may have been manageable before having to shelter in place.
For couples, marital issues, parenting challenges, and financial stress can increase conflict. It is more difficult to keep things private with everyone at home all the time. Problems with drug abuse and domestic violence can worsen because the usual supports and distractions are gone.
Teenagers’ job is to differentiate from their families and establish more independence. They usually test limits and try to spend as much time as possible with their peers. Teens have difficulty acknowledging their own vulnerability and following strict social distancing rules. They may push against parental limits leading to increased conflict.
Teletherapy
Blue Sky Psychiatry is using teletherapy to continue to provide our clients with effective psychotherapy services, including individual, couples, and family therapy.
Living alone under normal circumstances has its benefits. But social distancing can exacerbate problems associated with loneliness like depression, anxiety, substance abuse and eating disorders.
Living with other family members or roommates can present different challenges. The fear of COVID-19 magnifies any tensions that may have been manageable before having to shelter in place.
For couples, marital issues, parenting challenges, and financial stress can increase conflict. It is more difficult to keep things private with everyone at home all the time. Problems with drug abuse and domestic violence can worsen because the usual supports and distractions are gone.
Teenagers’ job is to differentiate from their families and establish more independence. They usually test limits and try to spend as much time as possible with their peers. Teens have difficulty acknowledging their own vulnerability and following strict social distancing rules. They may push against parental limits leading to increased conflict.
Telepsychiatry
Our medication prescribers are continuing to offer excellent psychiatric diagnostic services and psychopharmacologic monitoring through telepsychiatry for our patients.
During this time of social distancing and facing the possibility of serious illness, many of the issues people were already struggling with have become intensified. When sleep problems, loneliness, marital stress, addiction, domestic violence, financial problems, and other difficult family issues become too difficult to manage in spite of your best efforts and psychotherapeutic interventions, medication can be an important component of your treatment plan. Sometimes medication protocols that have been effective need to be adjusted during these stressful times.
Telepsychiatry
Our medication prescribers are continuing to offer excellent psychiatric diagnostic services and psychopharmacologic monitoring through telepsychiatry for our patients.
During this time of social distancing and facing the possibility of serious illness, many of the issues people were already struggling with have become intensified. When sleep problems, loneliness, marital stress, addiction, domestic violence, financial problems, and other difficult family issues become too difficult to manage in spite of your best efforts and psychotherapeutic interventions, medication can be an important component of your treatment plan. Sometimes medication protocols that have been effective need to be adjusted during these stressful times.
Directions for RingCentral Meetings
RingCentral Meetings is available for individuals as well as for couples and families. Please note that each meeting participant can access the meeting on a device of his or her choosing.
When you contact us to schedule your telehealth appointment, please let Hali or Jonna know which phone number(s) or email address(es) to use.
To Connect by Phone or Tablet:
Download the RingCentral Meetings app ahead of time from the Apple App Store (iOS) or the Google Play Store (Android). You can use this link: https://www.ringcentral.com/apps/rc-meetings.
Your provider will send you a text for access at the time of the meeting.
To Connect by Desktop or Laptop Computer:
Please download RingCentral Meetings ahead of time by opening up the link below, clicking on the blue button to the right that says: “Download for PC”, or clicking on the downward arrow next to that button and clicking on: “Download for Mac”.
https://www.ringcentral.com/apps/rc-meetings
Your provider will send you an email at the time of the meeting with a link to open it.
Offering telehealth for clients in:
Bay Area
Piedmont, Berkeley, Oakland, Emeryville, Albany, El Cerrito, Orinda, Moraga, Lafayette, Walnut Creek, Kensington, San Rafael, San Anselmo, Novato, Ross, Kentfield, Larkspur, Corte Madera, Mill Valley, Sausalito, Fairfax and elsewhere in Alameda County, Contra Costa County, and Marin County
Southern California
Calabasas, Agoura Hills, Canoga Park, Chatsworth, Encino, Granada Hills, Malibu, North Hills, Northridge, Oak Park, Pacific Palisades, Reseda, Santa Monica, Sherman Oaks, Simi Valley, Tarzana, Thousand Oaks, Topanga, Van Nuys, West Hills, Westlake Village, Winnetka, Woodland Hills and elsewhere in Los Angeles County and Ventura County