As telecommunication technologies and health apps become more ubiquitous and affordable, they expand opportunities for behavioural and mental health professionals to provide quality care. Telemental health now encompasses the full range of services, including assessment, treatment delivery, psychoeducation, supervision, and consultation. Many of the skills needed for competent telepractice are the same as in conventional in-office care. However, physical distance as well as technology itself can create challenges to safe and ethical practice. For instance, when conducting suicide assessment and intervention via videoconferencing, the clinician must be prepared to involve emergency or support services at the patient's location, while providing all the usual treatment documentation and follow-up. Such challenges are manageable when following the best practices outlined in this book.

This timely text provides foundational knowledge and skills pertaining to ethical and evidence-based practice for mental health providers engaging in or considering using distance modalities to treat clients. Targeting day-to-day application, the book explains the core functions of Telemental Health counseling (TMH) and its use across a broad spectrum of mental health modalities and settings. Using the framework of the ACA divisions, ASCA, and CACREP core areas to examine TMH, the text provides instructions to develop skills that readers can apply directly to their own counseling interactions. Providing a wealth of information based on empirical and impartial views, the book helps readers examine the benefits and risks of distance counseling in various settings. It encompasses the history of TMH, ethical codes, legal guidelines, and recent research. Case studies and opportunities for self-reflection enable readers to envision distance counseling in real-world contexts, ask critical questions, and form conclusions about its utility in their practice. Of particular value is the "Voices from the Field" feature, where practitioners from different settings describe using distance counseling. The "Challenges and Opportunities" features discuss the pros and cons of telemental health practice. The book is written through the lens of professional counseling which makes it an ideal companion to Counselor Education program courses in Counseling Skills, Pre-Practicum, Advanced Theory, or elective coursework pertaining to distance counseling and telemental health. Key Features: Includes critical content pertaining to the COVID-19 crisis Expands the view of distance counseling to include such varied professionals as mental health, school, family, couple, rehabilitation, addiction specialists, etc. Presents abundant case studies to provide context and practical application Addresses the positive and negative aspects of practicing distance counseling Includes ethical issues in each chapter pertaining to designated core areas or specialty Presents "Questions of Practice" to foster critical thinking regarding the use of TMH in specific roles or functions, Offers "Voices from the Field" with real-world examples focusing on practicing TMH within the designated core areas or specialties Emphasizes ethical, practical, and logistical TMH practice in all chapters Written through the lens of a professional counselor who is also a board-certified telemental health provider

Virtual care is the new normal. Are you prepared? In this comprehensive guide, therapist and certified telemental health trainer Joni Gilbertson discusses the entire virtual treatment process, from intake to termination (and beyond). Drawing from her own successful online practice, in addition to training thousands of professionals on telemental health, Gilbertson's straightforward, conversation style allows clinicians to see themselves in her case examples and clinical decision making. Designed with both the seasoned and newly minted therapist in mind, this guidebook provides a map to the essentials of a successful online practice, including: - Platforms that are both HIPAA-compliant and user-friendly - An ethical roadmap for navigating dilemmas common to virtual care - Up-to-date information on virtual care best practices and laws - Must-have risk management safeguards for your license, your practice, and your client - Customizable, legally sound forms, including informed consent, release of information, emergency plans, and more

Delivers key insights on the nuts and bolts of starting a telehealth practice or incorporating it into an existing one This timely reference guide for beginning and aspiring telemedical and telehealth NPs and other healthcare providers is the first to consolidate essential information on these practices into one convenient resource. Written by an NP who implemented a telemedicine program inside of a large practice from the ground up during COVID-19, this guide delivers vital insights into how to establish and maintain a telehealth practice that effectively supports patients and is fiscally successful. Field Guide to Telehealth and Telemedicine outlines step-by-step how to set up and manage a telemedical practice or incorporate it into an existing one. Chapters include information on workflows, staffing, formats and limitations, online etiquette for an optimal patient experience, legal and safety issues, and essential techniques for assessment and remote care. Numerous tables help identify state-specific limitations and clarify the ins-and-outs of billing and reimbursement for remote visits. Additionally, a section specifically devoted to COVID-19 outlines key considerations regarding care of these patients. Of special interest is the author’s compelling story of building his digital health care practice amid Covid-19. Yearly digital updates are included with the book’s purchase to keep readers apprised of rapid changes in the field. Key Features: Includes all the essentials NPs need to launch their digital healthcare practice or align their current digital health approach with best telehealth practice. Provides yearly digital updates to readers via Connect to keep telehealth considerations current. Presents a case study of a real-life issues and solutions in setting up and running a digital healthcare practice. Compiles and simplifies hard-to-find information related to common legal and reimbursement issues. Includes the author's experience ramping up his digital healthcare practice in the midst of COVID-19.

This book works as a guide to videoconferencing practice for psychological providers through a broad, simplified, and practical overview of pertinent factors. It is a consolidation of research literature and professional experiences of practicing, teaching, and studying videoconferencing. It begins by defining key concepts such as telehealth, telepsychology, and other related terminology and examining the role of telehealth in addressing ongoing mental health disparities. An overview of existing videoconferencing practices, guidebooks and general recommendations, as well as specifics of ethical and legal factors are discussed. The book then details numerous essential factors of videoconferencing practice that are directly applicable to psychological care, including considerations of computer system, video camera, display screen, microphone, videoconferencing platform, bandwidth and latency, and room setup, along with self-care practices. The appendices provide readers with links to resources, checklists, and other documents to guide their practice. Psychologists, counselors, and other mental health providers will find this user-friendly, research-informed guide indispensable when implementing online treatment and teletherapy.

E-Health, Telehealth, and Telemedicine is a hands-on resource that shows how communication technologies can be designed, implemented, and managed to help health care professionals expand and transform their organizations. Step by step the authors reveal how to introduce innovative communication tools to a wide range of health care settings. This indispensable book contains a wealth of information, suggestions, and advice about program development, ethical, legal and regulatory issues, and and technical options.

The only current book on the topic, Telepsychiatry and Health Technologies: A Guide for Mental Health Professionals is a practical, comprehensive, and evidence-based guide to patient-centered clinical care delivered in whole or in part by technological devices and applications. Not a technology-centered "health informatics" book, but rather one that describes basic technological concerns and emphasizes clinical issues and workflows, it is designed for psychiatrists, psychologists, and other mental health clinicians who seek to learn the modes, models, and methods of telepsychiatry. More than 30 practitioners of telepsychiatry across the core mental health disciplines were involved in development of the text, contributing knowledge and clinical examples. Rich with case studies and hands-on guidance, the book introduces strategies, then clearly illustrates how to put them into practice. The editors believe that psychiatry increasingly will focus on the treatment of populations, and that technology offers the best hope of doing so efficiently and effectively.Careful thought went into the book's conception and design, resulting in a marriage of structure and content that meets the needs of today's clinicians: The editors employed a unique process of manuscript development, first outlining each chapter in its entirety, then assigning sections to contributors selected for their specific clinical experience and therapeutic expertise. The result is a text that flows logically and creates synergy across chapters without duplication. The book provides "how-to" guidance on setting up a new telepsychiatry practice or integrating technologies into a current practice, covering critically important topics such as data collection, security, and electronic health records. Technologies addressed include telephony, smartphones, apps, e-mail, secure texting, and videoconferencing, all of which are increasingly being used in the assessment and treatment of patients with psychiatric disorders. More than 30 case examples of patients or programs are included, illustrating the range of clinical techniques that can be used and the types of patient that can be treated using available technologies -- whether in person, online, or in a hybrid form of care combining both modalities. Every chapter concludes with a summary of major learning objectives or findings covered. Telepsychiatry and Health Technologies: A Guide for Mental Health Professionals is destined to become a core resource in the training of mental health professionals from all disciplines, as well as an indispensable reference for those already integrating new technologies into their practices.

Telebehavioral Health: Foundations in Theory and Practice for Graduate Learners provides readers with a comprehensive overview of telebehavioral health, including definitions and concepts, the benefits and barriers associated with practice, and an interprofessional framework for telebehavioral health competencies. It is the first book to address telehealth competencies for behavioral professionals worldwide. The competencies outlined help readers develop an engaged, ethical, and effective telebehavioral health practice. The book discusses and provides examples of the knowledge, skills, and attitudes involved in the seven telebehavioral health competency domains. The chapters include differentiated content for novice, proficient, and authority practitioners throughout, allowing readers to adjust their exposure, in terms of depth and breadth, to each topical area. The text provides an overview of the characteristics and practices unique to telebehavioral health treatment, guidance for competent evaluation and care, review of legal and regulatory issues related to the use of technology, valuable insight for telepractice development, and more. Designed to help practitioners thoughtfully consider the use of technology to support optimal therapeutic experiences for their patients, Telebehavioral Health is an ideal text for students within the discipline. It can also serve as a beneficial reference for novice and seasoned practitioners.

All the tips and tools you need to build a successful mental health practice from the ground up Many mental health professionals currently working for group practices, hospitals, and private or government agencies have both the skills and the drive to become solo practitioners. But how and where do you begin? Getting Started in Private Practice is a reliable reference that offers the comprehensive information and armchair motivation you need to establish and build your own practice from the ground up. User-friendly and full of helpful tips, this handy book provides you with tools and techniques for starting and maintaining a thriving private practice, including information on: * Discovering your ideal practice * Creating a business plan * Financing your start-up * Setting fees * Setting up shop and measuring results * Minimizing risk * Managing managed care * Marketing your practice * Generating referrals * Utilizing additional print, Web, and organizational resources From major concerns such as ethics and liability to day-to-day matters like selecting stationery and business cards, Getting Started in Private Practice puts the best solutions at your fingertips. Whether you're a recent graduate or a seasoned pro, this invaluable resource will help you minimize the uncertainty of establishing a solo practice while maximizing the rewards.

This casebook provides practical recommendations on a range of issues associated with electronic-based mental health care. From technologies as simple as the telephone to more advanced webcams and mobile device applications, psychologists are increasingly using technology in their work---a practice known as telepsychology. Telepsychology allows clinicians to conduct remote therapy sessions, supplement in-person sessions with resources and follow-up care, collect and store client data, and more. The book's recommendations draw from the Guidelines for the Practice of Telepsychology, which were created jointly by the American Psychological Association, the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards, and the American Insurance Trust. Each chapter presents a guideline, explains how it relates to professional ethics and standards of care, and applies it to case examples. The richly nuanced case examples depict a broad range of dilemmas that psychologists may encounter when conducing telepsychology, as well as a broad range of settings, including hospitals, community health centers, private practice, industrial/organizational settings, forensic settings, academia, military, and veterans' centers. Whatever setting you practice in, you will find guidance for applying technology effectively, legally, and ethically.