TULSA, Okla. — Many aspects of life have had to change because of the pandemic, and the way families receive help from counselors has had to adjust as well.
The Parent Child Center of Tulsa had to go virtual within days when they could no longer meet in person, and they have found there are several benefits to the new way of meeting.
"Zero percent telehealth before this; it was 100% live and in person," said Therapeutic Services Vice President Kimberly Parker. "So this has been a huge shift for us."
Parker says for families with separate schedules, meeting virtually when they are at home is a good alternative to be able to meet all at once. There are also families who live up to three hours away, so being able to use Zoom or simply call in for sessions is much more convenient.
"We also have families who aren’t in the same home, so this actually brings them together more than in-person would have," said Meg Ritzky, who is a therapist at the center. "It’s a very safe environment too that they wouldn’t have if they were in person.”
Funding will play a key role in how much the center turns to telehealth and phone programs long-term for families, but Parker says the shift has opened their eyes to new possibilities, and could change the industry as a whole.
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