By Jill NAgy
ECS Psychological Services already had a platform to connect with patients remotely before the COVID-19 restrictions, according to clinical supervisor Dana Jacobs. Clinicians communicated remotely with patients in cases of illness or inclement weather.
Now, all their work is remote.
While many businesses are losing clients and customers because of the health emergency, ECS is actually taking on new clients, she said.
“Of course, our preference is to see patients personally, face to face,” said Jacobs. “But we are doing a very good job and so are our patients. People are very resilient.”
Remote access requires a computer and a telephone, but no special equipment.
Financially, ESC is doing well during the pandemic. No employees have been laid off. The therapeutic farm, on the other hand, has closed down. In addition, Therapeutic Horses had to cancel a fundraiser planned for early May.
The clinic has been offering free public information sessions hosted by their clinicians and streamed on FaceBook and Instagram to help people during the pandemic.
Topics have included maintaining positivity and coping with changing situations. They are listed on the ECS website, ECSPsychologicalServices.com, as well as their FaceBook and Instagram sites.
“We are playing it by ear” as to how often those sessions will appear, depending on need. In addition, they offer 15-minute interactive information sessions on FaceBook, also free and available to the public.
“We’re trying to keep up with the times,” Jacobs said.
ECS was founded more than 10 years ago by psychologist Eric Christopher-Sisk. The practice maintains its original office at 210 Church St., Saratoga Springs, across from Saratoga Hospital. In addition, ECS maintains clinics at 144 Main St. in South Glens Falls and in Mechanicville.
Seventeen therapists provide services, employing a variety of treatment modalities. They work with individuals and groups, children and families. Some traveled to different locations, pre-pandemic.
Among the conditions they tear are anger, anxiety, depression, grief and loss, and insomnia-sleep issues.
The practice, a private clinic, accepts most major insurance and, for now, there are no co-pays required.
About five years ago, they added a “therapeutic farm,” also in Saratoga, where they provide animal-related services: therapy dogs, petting goats and a home for Therapeutic Horses of Saratoga, an organization that rescues and retrains retired race horses for use in therapy.
It is a “beautiful property,” Jacobs said. Two workers take care of the animals now, but there is no therapy going on.