Updated 30.07.20
Most of our services can be accessed online as an alternative to in-person client sessions. If you're worried about the risk posed from covid-19, or if you simply prefer to access services online, this is great way for you to access help allowing you to receive the same clinical expertise and time with your clinician as you would during a face-to-face session.
General Considerations for Video Calling
- Ensure you are in a comfortable, private space where you cannot be overheard - ask family members not to disturb you.
- Try to avoid glare in the background e.g. from a window but also make sure the room is adequately lit.
- Check your speakers/camera/microphone are on before you start by checking your computer settings.
- Make sure your device has decent internet security software installed - and that it's up-to-date (Bitdefender, Kaspersky, Norton, McAfee, AVG, Avast, Trend Micro, BullGuard, Panda, F-Secure, Webroot etc.).
- Talk to your clinician if you have any concerns, anxieties or questions about video calling.
Using Zoom
Zoom is the software that most of our Clinicians will be using with you for remote video-calling sessions. Whichever software is used, your clinician will ensure it is GDPR compliant and secure.
Zoom terms the video-calls ‘meetings’. You can join a meeting (therapy session) using your desktop, smartphone, or tablet.
- You are not required to do anything until you receive an email from your clinician inviting you to a Zoom ‘meeting’ - although you may, of course, install the desktop client from the Zoom website or the app from Google Play Store (Android) or Apple App Store (iOS) if you wish.
- You do not require a Zoom account to join a meeting, but you will be prompted to download and install the mobile app or desktop ‘client’ (software) when you click on the link for the meeting in the email from your clinician.
- If you’re unfamiliar with Zoom, we recommend that you click on the link for the ‘meeting’ as soon as you receive the email. You will then be able to download and install the necessary software and test your microphone and camera are working well in advance of the session.
- Data Processing Info: Neither Zoom nor Purple House will take video recordings of your sessions.
- Please note, when partaking in a video call with your clinician, you are also agreeing not to make any recording (voice or picture) of your session.
For further information, please click on the following official Zoom help pages:
- Getting Started: (Windows/Mac) (Android) (iOS)
- How to Join a Meeting
Zoom - Extra Security Measures
As noted in the press recently, Zoom is not fully end-to-end encrypted in the same sense that WhatsApp is (for example). This means that whilst other people can't access the data shared during Zoom video calls, the company itself still could. End-to-end encryption would stop even the company itself from having any access to its communications data (which is not without its problems as it effectively creates a safe space for criminal activities etc.).
We recommend Zoom because it is user-friendly, free and reliable. We believe that the platform is secure. It complies to international standards by encrypting the connection between user and server using the TLS protocol (Transport Layer Security). This is the same type of security that secure websites (https) employ to protect financial transactions and personal data etc.
However, that doesn't mean our clinicians are complacent. There are features in Zoom that can be activated to ensure that your sessions (meetings) are as secure as possible. Please click the following link to find out how they do this: Zoom - Extra Security Measures.
If you have any further questions, please get in touch with your clinic.