This page presents our COVID-19 security measures in a reader friendly format.
If you prefer, the Desideratum Psychological & Counselling Services COVID-19 Risk Assessment is available on request should you require a copy.
Desideratum Psychological & Counselling Services Ltd
COVID-19 Secure Measures
Desideratum Psychological & Counselling Services as a service, is taking the following precautions to protect clients and help slow the spread of the coronavirus.
• Only one client is permitted in the therapy room at any time. This does mean that others are unable to join clients for their assessment or therapy session.• During periods of high risk of infection - office seating in the waiting room and in the therapy rooms are arranged for appropriate physical distancing.
• Clients are no longer required to wear a mask but I may wear a mask during periods of high infection in the communal areas. You are encouraged to wear a mask when infection rates are high.
• Clients and I maintain a safe distance, ideally up to 2-meters, particularly during periods of high risk of infection such as in the winter months.
• There is a clear screen between myself and clients during the session.
• Clients are encouraged to bring their own pen and note paper if required.
• A paperless service - documents and session materials are shared electronically before, during and after meetings by visual screen. Session materials are forwarded to the client after the session by encryption services.
• Restroom soap dispensers are maintained, and everyone is encouraged to wash their hands.
• Hand sanitiser in a bottle or an automated dispenser which contains at least 70% alcohol is
available in the therapy room. During periods of high risk of infection, hand sanitizer is made available at the reception counter, on the walls by the entrance/exit doors and within the washrooms.
• Meetings are scheduled at specific intervals to minimize the number of people in the waiting area.
• Meetings are held at a minimum of 30 minutes between clients to allow sufficient time to clean and the room air to be cleared.
• All clients are to wait in their cars, downstairs or outside and can enter the Citibase reception area no earlier than 5 minutes before their intended meeting.
• Chairs, tables, laptop pads, pens, EMDR equipment and other areas that are commonly touched are thoroughly sanitized after each use.
• Physical contact is not permitted.
• Tissues and rubbish bins are easily accessed. Rubbish is disposed of on a frequent basis.
• The therapy room and common areas are thoroughly disinfected at the end of each day.
• The room is well ventilated with fresh air pumped into the room from outside.
• One Blueair Purifier with the ability to capture particles at the 0.1 micron level (Covid-19 particles are 0.1 in size) is in operation 24 hrs a day within the therapy room.
• The therapy room, its equipment and the air are sanitized at the end of each working day.
• Clients are welcome to bring and take away their own drinks to avoid cross contamination.
• Spare face masks are available if clients would like to use one.
• Cashless service – All payments are now taken before the session by PayPal, Stripe or BACS.
• Invoices and receipts are provided electronically. Clients can access their online account which lists all appointments, invoices and payments. Printed invoices and receipts are provided electronically on request, or at the time of payment through the online diary system.
• Only one client is permitted in the therapy room at any time. This does mean that others are unable to join clients for their assessment or therapy session.• During periods of high risk of infection - office seating in the waiting room and in the therapy rooms are arranged for appropriate physical distancing.
• Clients are no longer required to wear a mask but I may wear a mask during periods of high infection in the communal areas. You are encouraged to wear a mask when infection rates are high.
• Clients and I maintain a safe distance, ideally up to 2-meters, particularly during periods of high risk of infection such as in the winter months.
• There is a clear screen between myself and clients during the session.
• Clients are encouraged to bring their own pen and note paper if required.
• A paperless service - documents and session materials are shared electronically before, during and after meetings by visual screen. Session materials are forwarded to the client after the session by encryption services.
• Restroom soap dispensers are maintained, and everyone is encouraged to wash their hands.
• Hand sanitiser in a bottle or an automated dispenser which contains at least 70% alcohol is
available in the therapy room. During periods of high risk of infection, hand sanitizer is made available at the reception counter, on the walls by the entrance/exit doors and within the washrooms.
• Meetings are scheduled at specific intervals to minimize the number of people in the waiting area.
• Meetings are held at a minimum of 30 minutes between clients to allow sufficient time to clean and the room air to be cleared.
• All clients are to wait in their cars, downstairs or outside and can enter the Citibase reception area no earlier than 5 minutes before their intended meeting.
• Chairs, tables, laptop pads, pens, EMDR equipment and other areas that are commonly touched are thoroughly sanitized after each use.
• Physical contact is not permitted.
• Tissues and rubbish bins are easily accessed. Rubbish is disposed of on a frequent basis.
• The therapy room and common areas are thoroughly disinfected at the end of each day.
• The room is well ventilated with fresh air pumped into the room from outside.
• One Blueair Purifier with the ability to capture particles at the 0.1 micron level (Covid-19 particles are 0.1 in size) is in operation 24 hrs a day within the therapy room.
• The therapy room, its equipment and the air are sanitized at the end of each working day.
• Clients are welcome to bring and take away their own drinks to avoid cross contamination.
• Spare face masks are available if clients would like to use one.
• Cashless service – All payments are now taken before the session by PayPal, Stripe or BACS.
• Invoices and receipts are provided electronically. Clients can access their online account which lists all appointments, invoices and payments. Printed invoices and receipts are provided electronically on request, or at the time of payment through the online diary system.
COVID-19 Screening Questionnaire
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The DPCS COVID-19 Screening Questionnaire
Before each therapy session, clients are respectfully required to review the DPCS COVID-19 Screening Questionnaire shown below. You are also able to download a copy of this questionnaire for your review prior to each meeting.
Further guidance – Should you attend for therapy ‘In Person’ given the Covid-19 risks?
Are you within a high-risk group? If so, then online therapy maybe a more safe and sensible option for you. The UK Centre for Disease Control and Prevention has identified high risk groups at increased risk of becoming severely ill with Covid-19 infection.
They advise:
• Some people are more likely than others to become severely ill.
• Severe illness means that a person with COVID-19 may need: hospitalization, intensive care, a ventilator to help them breathe or they may even die.
• People at increased risk, and those who live or visit with them, need to take precautions to protect themselves from getting COVID-19.
Those considered within the high-risk groups include:
• The elderly
• People with medical conditions
• Pregnant people
Risk for Severe Illness Increases with Age
As you get older, your risk for severe illness from COVID-19 increases. For example, people in their 50s are at higher risk for severe illness than people in their 40s. Similarly, people in their 60s or 70s are, in general, at higher risk for severe illness than people in their 50s. The greatest risk for severe illness from COVID-19 is among those aged 85 or older.
There are also other factors that can increase your risk for severe illness, such as having underlying medical conditions. By understanding the factors that put you at an increased risk, you can make decisions about what kind of precautions to take in your daily life, including whether you should attend therapy in person.
People of any age with the following conditions are at increased risk of severe illness from COVID-19:
• Cancer
• Chronic kidney disease
• COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease)
• Immunocompromised state (weakened immune system) from solid organ transplant
• Obesity (body mass index [BMI] of 30 or higher)
• Serious heart conditions, such as heart failure, coronary artery disease, or
cardiomyopathies
• Sickle cell disease
• Type 2 diabetes mellitus
People with the following conditions might be at an increased risk for severe illness from COVID-19:
• Asthma (moderate-to-severe)
• Cerebrovascular disease (affects blood vessels and blood supply to the brain)
• Cystic fibrosis
• Hypertension or high blood pressure
• Immunocompromised state (weakened immune system) from blood or bone marrow
transplant, immune deficiencies, HIV, use of corticosteroids, or use of other immune
weakening medicines
• Neurologic conditions, such as dementia
• Liver disease
• Pregnancy
• Pulmonary fibrosis (having damaged or scarred lung tissues)
• Smoking
• Thalassemia (a type of blood disorder)
• Type 1 diabetes mellitus
Factors that mean you might need to take extra precautions against COVID-19:
Your Individual Situation
• Racial and Ethnic Minority Groups
• Pregnancy and Breastfeeding
• People with Disabilities
• Developmental and Behavioural Disorders
• Drug Use and Substance Use Disorder
Where You Live:
• People Living in Rural Communities
• People Experiencing Homelessness
• Newly Resettled Refugee Populations
• Nursing Home and Longer-Term Care Facilities
• Group Homes for People with Disabilities
A copy of this information is available within the DPCS Client Information & Consent Form.
For further information and advice on how to look after yourself go to:
They advise:
• Some people are more likely than others to become severely ill.
• Severe illness means that a person with COVID-19 may need: hospitalization, intensive care, a ventilator to help them breathe or they may even die.
• People at increased risk, and those who live or visit with them, need to take precautions to protect themselves from getting COVID-19.
Those considered within the high-risk groups include:
• The elderly
• People with medical conditions
• Pregnant people
Risk for Severe Illness Increases with Age
As you get older, your risk for severe illness from COVID-19 increases. For example, people in their 50s are at higher risk for severe illness than people in their 40s. Similarly, people in their 60s or 70s are, in general, at higher risk for severe illness than people in their 50s. The greatest risk for severe illness from COVID-19 is among those aged 85 or older.
There are also other factors that can increase your risk for severe illness, such as having underlying medical conditions. By understanding the factors that put you at an increased risk, you can make decisions about what kind of precautions to take in your daily life, including whether you should attend therapy in person.
People of any age with the following conditions are at increased risk of severe illness from COVID-19:
• Cancer
• Chronic kidney disease
• COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease)
• Immunocompromised state (weakened immune system) from solid organ transplant
• Obesity (body mass index [BMI] of 30 or higher)
• Serious heart conditions, such as heart failure, coronary artery disease, or
cardiomyopathies
• Sickle cell disease
• Type 2 diabetes mellitus
People with the following conditions might be at an increased risk for severe illness from COVID-19:
• Asthma (moderate-to-severe)
• Cerebrovascular disease (affects blood vessels and blood supply to the brain)
• Cystic fibrosis
• Hypertension or high blood pressure
• Immunocompromised state (weakened immune system) from blood or bone marrow
transplant, immune deficiencies, HIV, use of corticosteroids, or use of other immune
weakening medicines
• Neurologic conditions, such as dementia
• Liver disease
• Pregnancy
• Pulmonary fibrosis (having damaged or scarred lung tissues)
• Smoking
• Thalassemia (a type of blood disorder)
• Type 1 diabetes mellitus
Factors that mean you might need to take extra precautions against COVID-19:
Your Individual Situation
• Racial and Ethnic Minority Groups
• Pregnancy and Breastfeeding
• People with Disabilities
• Developmental and Behavioural Disorders
• Drug Use and Substance Use Disorder
Where You Live:
• People Living in Rural Communities
• People Experiencing Homelessness
• Newly Resettled Refugee Populations
• Nursing Home and Longer-Term Care Facilities
• Group Homes for People with Disabilities
A copy of this information is available within the DPCS Client Information & Consent Form.
For further information and advice on how to look after yourself go to:
Opening hoursMonday: 10.00am - 6.00 pm
Tuesday: 10.00am - 6.00 pm Wednesday: 10.00am - 6.00 pm Thursday: 10.00am - 6.00 pm (Online only) Friday: 10.00am - 6..00 pm (Online only) Saturday: Closed Sunday: Closed Voicemail or Zoom Chat messages can be left on Dr Thompson's Direct Number 0117 313 6822 including during out of office hours. Direct Mobile number: 07532 182768. Please remember to give consent to contact you and leave your contact details, Dr Thompson is unable to return missed calls without your permission. Email: enquiries@desideratumpsych.com 
If you prefer to pay by Stripe and have payments collected automatically two days before your scheduled meetings - then you may decide to book your meetings through the Harley Therapy Platform below.
Please note that additional fees are included when booking through Harley Therapy and you are unable to change payment method throughout your course of therapy due to Harley Therapy's Terms and Conditions. |
Where to find usPostal & Practice Address
Desideratum P&C Services Ltd Suite 221, The Aztec Centre Aztec West Almondsbury Bristol, BS32 4TD Secure Direct Number: 0117 313 6822 Direct Mobile: 07532 182768 
The DPCS Practice is Covid-19 secure to minimise risk |
Desideratum Psychological & Counselling Services Ltd ®, Registered Office: Suite 221, The Aztec Centre, Aztec West, Almondsbury, Bristol, BS32 4TD. Registered in England & Wales, Company No. 8819212.
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