Having carried out a detailed Covid-19 risk assessment, the directors of the Kernos Centre are pleased to announce that they will be starting a phased re-opening of their Friars Street premises, from Tuesday, 1st September, for face-to-face counselling sessions.
Director Karen Smout said, “We know that the coronavirus pandemic has had a huge impact on mental health, causing anxiety, for a lot of people, and we are keen to do as much as we can, to help our clients achieve sustainable health and wellbeing.
“Whilst we have continued supporting adults and children in the area during lockdown, by providing online and telephone counselling, we are very aware of those clients who have been waiting for their face-to-face therapy to start, or resume. We are now able to start face-to-face counselling – though, unfortunately, not at the same capacity as before the virus.”
Measures taken to ensure the safety of both clients and staff, include clear acrylic desk screens, in the reception area, and no one able to wait in reception. Clients will have their temperature taken, on arrival, and be taken straight through to a therapy room. Appointment times will be staggered, so that clients do not arrive, or leave, at the same time, and 2m-distancing will be observed. All therapists and staff will wear full-face transparent visors and clients will need to wear a face covering, when walking to, and from, the therapy rooms. There will be ample face coverings, disposable gloves, and hand sanitisers, for everyone, and cleaning with disinfectant sprays will take place, between counselling sessions.
Clients will be telephoned by their therapist, and safety information will be given to each one, before the start of their sessions. It is hoped this will further reduce the health risk anxiety.
Remote therapy (via telephone, or video links) will continue to be available.
