2-Day: Certified Clinical Telemental Health Provider Training: A Therapist Guide for Ethical, Legal and Technology Concerns when Using Teletherapy

CPD

Handouts

Speaker

Melissa Westendorf, PhD, JD Related seminars and products

Technology Wellness Center

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Melissa Westendorf, PhD, JD, is a clinical and forensic psychologist and founder of the Technology Wellness Center. As a clinician, she has provided therapy to adults and adolescents in the community and within the correctional setting. Dr. Westendorf’s forensic practice is dedicated to assessing adults and youth in either the criminal justice system or in civil matters. As a technology wellness expert, she is dedicated to assisting parents, children, adolescents, and adults on understanding the complexities of technology use and the impact on our brains, emotions, and interpersonal relationships. Dr. Westendorf’s legal training coupled with her clinical background enables her to work with individuals who are experiencing the legal ramifications of technology use.

 

As a proactive psychologist and educator, Dr. Westendorf is a keynote speaker at academic institutions, parent organizations, businesses, and community groups, offering preventative tools and resources that educate others on how to manage technology use in a healthy manner. She is the co-author of Unplug! Raising Kids in a Technology Addicted World. She has served on the Committee for Legal Issues for the American Psychological Association and on the Psychology Examining Board for the state of Wisconsin. Dr. Westendorf has been appointed as an expert in high profile legal cases, featuring the psychological ramifications of technology use. Her expertise has been relied upon in a wide variety of articles, podcasts, radio segments, and television programming. She has been featured on NPR (National Public Radio), Wisconsin Public Radio, and ABC’s 20/20. She is a monthly contributor to The Morning Blend.

 

Speaker Disclosures:
inancial: Melissa Westendorf is the founder of Technology Wellness Center, LLC. and maintains a private practice. She receives compensation as an international trainer. Melissa Westendorf receives royalties as a published author. She receives a speaking honorarium and recording royalties from PESI, Inc. She has no relevant financial relationships with ineligible organizations.
Non-financial: Melissa Westendorf is a member of the Association for the Treatment of Sexual Abusers, the American Psychological Association, the Wisconsin Bar Association, and the International Association of Correctional and Forensic Psychologists.

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Objectives

1. Identify the ethical principles and applications of ethical codes for telehealth services.
2. Determine the HIPAA guidelines and how they apply to telehealth services.
3. Assess inter-state issues associated with telehealth and how to stay in compliance.
4. Determine best practices for creating a good setting for telemental health services.
5. Evaluate how to implement policies and procedures that are necessary for maintaining an ethical telehealth practice.
6. Identify and assess electronic services and platforms for delivering ethical telemental health services.
7. Determine how to screen for suitable clients for telemental health services.
8. Assess how to effectively manage boundary issues that might arise during telemental health services.
9. Identify which therapeutic practices are conducive to telemental health services.
10. Assess the threats that technology poses to the confidentiality and privacy of clients.
11. Determine how to maintain ethical standards and compliance while utilizing social media technology.
12. Determine how to correctly manage electronic records in a telemental health setting.

Outline

Research about Telehealth Services

• Here to stay
• It works
• Benefits

Application of Ethical Codes

• Psychologists, social workers, professional counsellors
• Building competence
• Technology appropriateness examples

HIPAA

• HIPAA and HITECH
• HIPAA and small providers
• Violations and why they occur

State Law Applications

• State interests for the pros and cons for permitting telehealth
• Cohesive incoherence
  • Examples of statutory guidance
• Risk management guidelines
• Interjurisdictional practice

Efforts to Improve Telehealth Interjurisdictional Practice

• PsyPact
• Others
• Checklist of questions to determine if you can practice across statelines

Case Examples for Using Various Forms of Telehealth Best practices for telehealth

• Selecting the appropriate tools
• Utilizing ATA guidelines
  • Clinical – patient and setting appropriateness
  • Technical - The setting, camera, microphones, and lighting
• Administrative – connectivity, training
• Practical solutions for your therapy

Processes & Procedures

• The intake process
• Informed consent – sample plan, key topics to cover
• Emergency and crisis plans – what to include, medical issues, sample plan

Delivery Platforms Keeping Ethics/HIPAA in Mind

• Asynchronous platforms
• Common elements
• Concerns with platform
  • Synchronous therapy
  • All-in-one services
• Email and texting safely
• Pros and cons
• HIPAA requirements
• Encryption
• Password protection
• VPN
• Electronic communication policy
• Hardware and software safety

Screening and Suitability of the Client

• Benefits of telehealth Services
  • Evidenced-based research
  • Patient and setting contraindications
• The intake, mental status exam, and ongoing Evaluation
• Assessment with clients

Professional Boundary Considerations

• For the client
• For the clinician
  • Crossings versus violations
  • Recommendations for maintaining professional boundaries
• Licensing board complaint examples

• Red Flags for Therapist

• Strategies to Avoid Red Flags

• Recommendations for improving the therapist's telehealth experience

• Additional Resources

Multicultural Considerations

• Issues to consider
• Geography, settings, populations
• Seeking guidance

Theoretical Considerations for Telehealth

• Evidence-based support
• Which models transition well

Self-Care for the Clinician

• Ethics application
• Causes of burn out
• Warning signs in therapists
• Characteristics of effective self-care
• Strategies and techniques
• Resources

Dos and Don'ts of Social Media

• Using social media to your advantage
• The required social media policy
• Social media and boundaries

The Era of Electronic Records

• Development of the electronic record
• Electronic document storage
• Electronic document destruction

Reimbursement

• Medicare/Medicaid
• Private payer

Target Audience

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

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