Should extenuating circumstances arise (like the past Covid 19 pandemic) Support Group may rarely need to change to Video Chat Support Group
Guidelines for Video Chat Support Group
Taking into consideration all the confidentiality issues with Video chat platforms, we created the following recommendations:
- Do not join the conversation if you are anywhere near your abuser.
- We will only do the check-in portion of support group, avoiding all comments about the development of divorce, custody, or other legal matters.
- Let's try to make sure our children are busy doing something else. If possible, have everyone wearing headphones or provide some other way that they cannot hear or watch the group meeting.
Disclaimer and Release of Liability
Bridges DVC offers online support group services via Zoom in special circumstances. These services are offered as the exception and only in extenuating circumstances outside of Bridges' control. Should this arise, the information below serves as informed consent and practice policies for these services.
Participants will engage in our online support group once they have made sure they are in a safe place to talk.
Bridges DVC will take precautions to protect the confidentiality of participants and the content of online support group sessions. However, using any online technologies for group meetings always comes with risks. Should this be a concern, we understand if a participant chooses not to attend online sessions.
Neither counselors/group facilitators nor participants will be allowed to video or audio record the sessions.
There is always potential for frustration when using online services for support group, including: possible misunderstandings in tone of voice or body language, delays in the videoconferencing, computer glitches, technology failures, and mistakes through human error. Patience is needed when using this technology.
I hereby release Bridges DVC of any liability in the event of an unauthorized person hearing or watching sessions, an unauthorized caller getting access to the call, data breaches, unencrypted recordings, and any and all potential security risks that come with utilizing online meeting tools and technologies.
