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1. Appraise the legal and ethical challenges posed by telehealth for mental health professionals in a clinical setting.
2. Analyze the evidence supporting the effectiveness of telemental health as it relates to clinical treatment.
3. Inspect the unique policies and procedures considerations for telehealth and the clinical implications.
4. Evaluate adaptions with telemental health for various populations to improve clinical outcomes.
5. Investigate the privacy, security and confidentiality concerns related to technology use in clinical practice.
6. Differentiate how client expectations differ for telehealth as compared to in-person therapy and what that means for clinical treatment.
7. Distinguish unique boundary issues that arise in a telemental health setting.
8. Utilize specific adaptations that are recommended for various disorders and modalities to improve clinical outcomes.
9. Appraise text messaging and email complications as it relates to privacy in a clinical setting.
10. Apply best ethical practices regarding referrals and advertising concerns as it relates to clinical practice.
11. Articulate the legalities of practicing across state lines via telemental health sessions.
12. Specify the HIPAA compliance challenges associated with telemental health and its clinical implications.

Telehealth for Mental Health Professionals: What You Need to Know Before You Get Started

• The Types of Telehealth
  • Synchronous Format – Live Interaction via Video
  • Asynchronous Format – Transfers of Information Electronically
• Evidence Supporting the Effectiveness of Telehealth for Clients and Various Populations
• The Benefits and Risk for Telehealth
• Recent Trends in Telehealth

Legal & Ethical Issues

• Following a Code of Ethics
• Legal Implications of Practicing Across State Lines
• Privacy & Security
  • HIPAA Compliance Concerns
  • Documentation & Paperwork Issues
  • Ensure Data Protection & Avoid Unintended Access/Disclosure
  • The Client’s Perception of Privacy via Videoconferencing
• Boundary Issues More Likely to Arise in Telehealth
• Multicultural Issues in Telehealth
• Technology Competence of the Clinician and Client

How to Start Your Mental Health Telepractice

• Offering Your Telehealth Services – Where to Begin?
• How to Introduce the Concept to Clients
• Who is a Good Fit for Telehealth? Who is Not?
• Administrative Responsibilities
• Polices & Procedures Consideration – Protect Yourself and Your License
  • Informed Consent – Unique Concerns & Best Practices
  • Intake Process – Tips You Need to Know
  • Emergency Plan for Telehealth
• Client Interviewing & Assessment Techniques
• Videoconferencing vs. Telephone
• Best Practices for Professionalism
  • Camera Placement, Background, Proximity & Dress Attire
  • Handling Technical Issues

Important Business Aspects to Consider

• Marketing Concerns with Telehealth Practice
• Billing & Reimbursement Strategies – Is This Covered Under My Client’s Insurance Policy?
• Payment Fee Structure Considerations
• Communication of Payment Structure to Client
• Professional Liability Insurance – Telehealth Covered?
• Client Expectations & How They Differ Versus In-Person Therapy
• Financial, Accounting & Tax Concerns
• Giving and Getting Referrals – Issues for Telepractice

Choosing a Platform – What Technology is Right for You and Your Clients?

• An Overview of the Various Platforms Available
• Demonstrations of Key Features
• How to Assess What Features are Important for You
• Cost Comparisons
• What Legal Assurances Do I Need from A Platform Provider?
• Client Considerations When Choosing a Platform
  • What Technology is My Client Using & Where From?

Demonstrations of Telehealth in Practice

• A Guided Tour of How to Begin a Telehealth Videoconferencing Session
• What Videoconferencing Looks Like in Practice
• Key Techniques to Enhance the Telehealth In-Session Experience
• Presentation Skills & Tips

Additional Technology Considerations

• Text Message & Email Telehealth – Security, Privacy & Expectations
• Cloud Storage – What are the legal issues?
• Virtual Reality – What You Need to Know

Treatment Adaptations to Consider for Telehealth

• Disorders
  • Discuss Key Adjustments Recommended for Practicing Telehealth for Different Disorders
• Populations
  • Evidence & Best Practices for Tailoring Telehealth to a Variety of Clients
  • Important Adaptations for Groups or Couples
• Modalities
  • Which Modalities Most Easily Apply to Telehealth & Which Could Use Adaptions

Case Studies of Telehealth Successes & Failures

• Examples of the Do’s and Don’ts That Can Make or Break Your Telepractice

The Future of Telehealth for Mental Health Professionals

• Possible Future New Rules & Regulations
• Up & Coming Technology Trends to Be Aware Of
• What Distance Therapy Might Look Like in 10 years

Joni Gilbertson, MA, NCC, LCPC, LMHC, BC-TMH, CTMH, is a licensed clinical professional counselor, Board-Certified Telemental Health Provider and the owner/ founder of COPE Counseling Services, LLC where she uses telemental health to assist individuals, couples and families with everyday coping in areas such as relationships, depression, suicide, and anger management. She is licensed as a mental health professional both in Illinois and Florida while presently residing in Florida.

Joni completed over twenty trainings in telehealth and edited sixteen plus online courses for telemental health. She is a certified trainer in clinical telemental health, mental health first aid, and motivational interviewing. She is also certified in domestic violence facilitation and selective other methods that enhance client awareness. She regularly uses distance counseling to work with diverse populations by using video sessions and other technologies. She started one of the first telehealth programs for court-ordered clients and has over ten years of experience with using video sessions for programs such as domestic violence and anger management.

Joni also has experience supervising a mental health staff within a hospital setting and supervising interns within her clinical practice. For many years she trained mental health agencies, children and family services, first responders, employees at jails, prisons, and detention centers on mental health topics and legal and ethical matters of relative concern to each population. As a former Chief of Probation and Probation Officer, she was responsible for designing and training staff members on mental health issues such as suicide awareness, personality disorders, substance use disorders and treatment strategies.

Joni is a recently retired college instructor who worked within the Sociology Department where she designed and instructed seventeen mental health and legal issues classes. She was recently nominated and presented with an award for “Teachers Who Make a Difference” due to her engaging and dynamic style of teaching. She makes learning an enjoyable experience with her passion for the topic of using technology for mental health.

Speaker Disclosures:
Financial: Joni Gilbertson maintains a private practice. She receives a speaking honorarium, recording, and book royalties from PESI, Inc. She has no relevant financial relationships with ineligible organizations.
Non-financial: Joni Gilbertson has no relevant non-financial relationships.

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CE Information Coming Soon
Continuing education credit information is coming soon for this non-interactive self-study package.

CEs may be available for select professions, as listed in the target audience. Hours will be dependent on the actual recording time. Please check with your state licensing board or organization for specific requirements.

There may be an additional fee for CE certificates. Please contact our Customer Service at 1-800-844-8260 for more details.

**Materials that are included in this course may include interventions and modalities that are beyond the authorized practice of mental health professionals. As a licensed professional, you are responsible for reviewing the scope of practice, including activities that are defined in law as beyond the boundaries of practice in accordance with and in compliance with your professions standards.

All members of the PESI, Inc. planning committee have provided disclosures of financial relationships with ineligible organizations and any relevant non-financial relationships prior to planning content for this activity. None of the committee members had relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies or other potentially biasing relationships to disclose to learners. For speaker disclosures, please see the faculty biography.

• Counselors
• Social Workers
• Psychologists
• Psychiatrists
• Case Managers
• Addiction Counselors
• Therapists
• Marriage & Family Therapists
• Nurses
• Other Mental Health Professionals