The continuing education events displayed below cover the topic of telehealth for mental health clinicians. Register today to view an upcoming event or earn CE credits by viewing a homestudy course at any time.

While telehealth may find its roots in distance therapy, sometimes conducted over the phone, it has become much more practical and sophisticated. Telehealth, or more specifically telemental health, may most often refer to online therapy. As the demand for ease of access and convenience increases, more people search for telemental health services, and more clinicians rise to meet the demand.

Some research has demonstrated that online therapy can be as effective as traditional, in-person psychotherapy. Mental health professionals who serve the following groups may also find that by offering a teletherapy option, they are able to reach and help more people:

  • Individuals who with mental health issues that make leaving home difficult, such as agoraphobia, severe social anxiety, or avoidant personality
  • People with chronic illness or disabilities
  • Active duty military and veterans
  • Individuals in caregiving roles
  • People who live in rural or remote areas
  • Individuals whose careers involve constant travel, such as pilots, flight attendants, truck drivers, musicians, bloggers, and many others

Regardless of occupation, many people experience an increased pace in their work and less free time as new technologies increase speed of communication and production. As a result, they may seek telehealth to meet their mental health needs in a way that fits into their busy schedule. Mental health professionals including psychologists, LMFTs, LPCs, LCSWs, and others may find that expanding their practice to include telehealth proves beneficial to both their clients and themselves. 

Telehealth training for therapists can help clinicians gain the skills and knowledge they need to successfully provide online mental health care. Professionals who offer telehealth must be aware of and compliant with the ethical codes and laws that govern telehealth. An understanding of the limitations of telehealth, including potential for misunderstanding or delay in communication, can also help clinicians address those challenges and improve the quality of telemental health care they offer. 

GoodTherapy provides telehealth trainings for mental health professionals on topics such as the ethics of online therapy and how to provide clinically effective teletherapy. With the right resources, even mental health professionals who haven’t yet considered providing telehealth can incorporate online care into their practice and reach more of the people seeking their help.

Reference:

Novotney, A. (2017). A growing wave of online therapy. Monitor on Psychology, 2(48), 48. Retrieved from https://www.apa.org/monitor/2017/02/online-therapy