A Practitioner's Guide to Telemental Health: How to Conduct Legal, Ethical, and Evidence-Based Telepractice

As telecommunication technologies have become more sophisticated and affordable, they have expanded opportunities for behavioral 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 those provided 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 still providing all the usual treatment documentation and follow-up. Such challenges are manageable when following the best practices outlined in this book. This practical guide focuses on conducting psychological services with videoconferencing as the primary platform. Whether offering telepractice as an add-on or as the primary mode of care delivery, mental health professionals will find this book an essential resource for getting started.