Basic Competencies in Telehealth [3 CEUs]

Description

for Licensed Counselors, MFTs, and Social Workers

This 3-module, presentation-based course covers basic competencies in the provision of psychotherapy via telehealth including issues related to law and ethics, boundaries, safety, efficacy, determining appropriateness according to diagnostic, technical, safety, and cultural considerations, and practice considerations such as billing, payment, and platform selection and common presentation issues. This course satisfies the 3 hours of training in telehealth required by the BBS in California for Licensed Professional Counselors, Marriage and Family Therapists (MFTs), and Social Workers.

Learning objectives:

1. Define key terminology related to telehealth.
2. Describe the basic aspects of competence for providing telehealth and assess one’s current degree of competence.
3. Understand ethical obligations when providing telehealth according to one’s professional code of ethics (whether a professional counselor, marriage and family therapist, or social worker).
4. Describe specific issues with and predict solutions for practicing across state lines and/or internationally.
5. Summarize relevant federal laws that govern the practice of telehealth in the United States and describe the responsibilities conferred upon one’s practice by those laws.
6. Summarize arguments for and against providing telehealth in a jurisdiction where one is not licensed.
7. Describe the pitfalls associated with coaching current psychotherapy clients in jurisdictions where one is not licensed.
8. Apply an ethical decision-making framework to an example of a legal dilemma arising from legally practicing across state lines.
9. Evaluate the current research on the efficacy of providing psychotherapy via telehealth.
10. Describe the process of assessing appropriateness for telehealth according to diagnostic, technical, safety, and cultural considerations.
11. Recite steps to take to manage boundaries and safety when providing psychotherapy via telehealth.
12. Understand the limitations of liability insurance coverage.
13. Describe guidelines for communicating at all points of the therapeutic process, important considerations regarding billing and payment and platform selection, and approaches to managing technical problems.
14. Identify and summarize ways to address common issues with presenting oneself on camera.

Note: As an exception, Associates can apply this course’s CEUs toward BBS Telehealth course requirements for Associate renewals and licensure requirements. Normally, our CEUs apply to LPCCs, LMFTs, LCSWs, or LEPs only as required by the BBS.

Presenter

Linda J. Hoffman, PsyD
Clinical Psychologist, Above The Line Psychotherapy
Part-Time Master Lecturer, University of Southern California