With the relaunch of Alberta, The Happiness Factory is transitioning into both online and in-person sessions. Twelve (12) hours prior to the session you will receive a pre-session survey that allows you to state whether you’d like to attend in person or online. If you would like to attend in person you must successfully fill out the survey to confirm you are reasonably safe and COVID free. We will be cancelling any in-person appointments if we start experiencing symptoms. You will be notified as quickly as possible in this case.
With Edmonton bylaw # 19408 now in effect, we do ask that if you are attending your session in person you wear a mask within the building and waiting area. Masks are now mandatory for sessions attended in-person. Additionally, you are welcome to request your therapist wear a mask or sit further back so that you feel reasonably safe during your session.
Our video sessions are conducted through the doxy.me website. This service offers both security and ease of use. It works through your web browser, no need to download anything. You can use it on your smartphone, tablet, or computer (so long as your computer has a camera and microphone). If there are any issues with setting the video up (such as poor connection or technical issues) we will switch the session to audio-only by calling you. To log into a session you need only click the link provided below, type in your name, and click the ‘check-in’ button. Please feel free to check in early as we can see who is in the ‘waiting room’.
Sessions with Alyson can be accessed here.
Sessions with Brent can be accessed here.
As you may know, our standard therapeutic style here at The Happiness Factory is EMDR. Given the different modality of treatment (fancy words for doing the session using video), we may decide to use a different style of therapy to better fit your needs. This is typical of remote counselling. If we do decide to do reprocessing, there are a few things you may need to know.
Reprocessing is done through bilateral stimulation. We typically use auditory bilateral stimulation via headphones. For us to do so remotely, you can download “EMDR Kit” on Google Play or the App Store for free. This would need to be downloaded on a separate device than what we are using to conduct the session. If this doesn’t work for you, don’t worry! We can also use tactile or visual bilateral stimulation. We’ll talk you through this if or when it comes up in session.
At this time there is no change to our cancellation policy.
Our goals are to help everyone stay healthy and safe and for our clients to continue to receive uninterrupted psychological treatment. Thank you in advance for your understanding of this transition. We’ll do our best to make it as smooth and painless as possible. If you have any feedback you’d like to give us, questions, comments, or concerns please let us know. We’d love to hear from you so that we can better tailor this process to fit your needs.
Sincerely,
Alyson Howatt
P.S. Two handy tips for your handwashing Funtime! First, wash your hands like you just chopped up chilli peppers and are about to put contacts in. This will ensure your diligence as well as give you time to ponder what possible reason you have for doing this for the 20 seconds of handwashing. Second, most chaffing happens during drying. When you dry your hands protect your tender skin by patting not rubbing dry. Completely dried hands are less likely to get red or raw than moist hands so be sure to pat thoroughly.
P.P.S. Switching to working from home instead of at the office is a huge shift to all the ritualized routines that we don’t even acknowledge in our day. If you’re struggling to focus on work when at home then consider what you can intentionally structure as a ritual to tell your mind that you are now ‘at work’. For example, consider wearing your shoes or a blazer when you’re working (even if you’re also in your pyjamas) to signal your brain that now is ‘work’ time.