Telehealth Visits

Telehealth at Whipple Creek Wellness makes mental health care more accessible, flexible, and comfortable. Here’s how patients benefit:

• Convenient – Attend appointments from home, work, or any private space. No commute, no waiting rooms.

• Accessible – Ideal for rural areas, busy schedules, and those with mobility or health concerns.

• Consistent – Keep up with care, even during illness, travel, or bad weather.

• Private – Enjoy the comfort and confidentiality of your own environment.

• Low-Stigma – No need to visit a clinic in person—get support discreetly.

• Quick Access – Faster scheduling and easier follow-ups when you need them.

• Connected – Secure video sessions and messaging, with access to your records through our Patient Portal.

At Whipple Creek Wellness, we prioritize your comfort, privacy, and safety during every telehealth session. To help create a secure and supportive environment, we ask patients to follow these guidelines:

• Disclose Your Location and Accompaniment: At the start of each session, please share your current location and let us know if anyone is present with you.

• Choose a Private Setting: Sessions should take place in a quiet, private space where you feel comfortable speaking openly.

• Avoid Distractions: For your safety and full engagement, telehealth sessions may not be conducted while driving or operating any machinery.

These steps help ensure that your care remains focused, effective, and respectful of your well-being.

Yes—many studies have shown that online (telehealth) sessions can be just as effective as in-person therapy for a wide range of mental health concerns, including anxiety, depression, and stress-related conditions. Telehealth supports accessibility, flexibility, and continuity of care, especially when in-person visits are not possible due to illness, mobility challenges, travel limitations, or scheduling conflicts.

At Whipple Creek Wellness, we prioritize therapeutic connection and clinical outcomes. Our providers use secure, encrypted audio/video platforms designed for healthcare to deliver confidential, high-quality care. If your provider determines that in-person sessions would be more appropriate for your therapeutic needs, you may be directed to face-to-face care.

While telehealth offers convenience and flexibility, there are some risks to be aware of:

• Technical Disruptions: Poor internet connection may interrupt sessions or affect communication quality.

• Privacy Concerns: Despite using encrypted software, there is always a slight risk of unauthorized access to personal health information.

• Data Loss: Like any electronic system, stored data may be vulnerable to loss due to technical failure.

Whipple Creek Wellness takes these risks seriously and uses HIPAA-compliant, encrypted platforms to minimize them. We encourage patients to find a private, quiet location for sessions and to communicate any concerns about telehealth with their provider.

To join a telehealth session, patients must have access to a device with a camera, microphone, and stable internet connection—such as a smartphone, tablet, or computer. Patients must also be able to receive email, as a secure session link will be sent prior to the appointment.

All telehealth visits must take place while the patient is physically located in Washington or Oregon, where Whipple Creek Wellness providers are licensed to practice.

To ensure privacy and quality of care, sessions should take place in a quiet, private location. Participating while driving or operating machinery is not permitted.

I understand that telehealth services carry certain risks, including—but not limited to—the possibility that, despite reasonable efforts by my provider:

• The transmission of my personal information may be disrupted or distorted due to technical failures,

• Unauthorized persons may interrupt the transmission of my personal information, and/or

• My personal information stored electronically may be unintentionally lost or accessed by unauthorized individuals.

Whipple Creek Wellness uses secure, encrypted audio/video software to deliver telehealth services to minimize these risks.

I understand that if my provider determines that I would be better served by another form of care, such as face-to-face services, I will be offered appropriate referrals. I acknowledge that despite the efforts of both myself and my provider, my condition may not improve and, in some cases, may worsen.

I understand the alternatives to telehealth have been explained to me. By choosing to participate in telehealth, I agree to use video conferencing technology for my sessions. I also understand that I may be directed to in-person care either at my request or at my provider’s recommendation.