To answer your question, rather than choosing not to see someone who is unvaccinated, the NSRP Covid-19 Guidelines do provide other steps that the practitioner could take.
1. The psychologist could consider virtual care, if appropriate.
2. The practitioner could combine some of the measures allowed in the guidelines, such as both wearing a mask and social distancing.
3. If necessary, the psychologist should work through the ethical decision-making process and document their process/rationale. This could include consideration of risk of harm to self and others.
4. While the psychologist in private practice could determine that the safest and most appropriate option is to conduct the session virtually, the client could choose to decline the virtual session. The psychologist would not be forced to do an in-person session. However, the practitioner should ensure that they have considered whether alternatives/steps such as those noted above have been considered, and a referral made elsewhere [could simply recommend that the individual consult the Find a Psychologist section of the Association of Psychologists of Nova Scotia (www.apns.ca) website for a referral].
With that said, it may be an expectation of the NSHA/provincial government that psychologists working in the public sector or receiving public money accommodate clients who wish to be seen in-person.
