Reply to Ladonna Taylor and Shanekwa Jones Post Week 4 Discussion The Complexities of E-Therapy
In your responses to your peers, consider the evaluation provided by your colleague and explain whether or not he or she provided sufficient information on the appropriate uses of e-therapies with mild, moderate, and severe mental health disorders. Recommend other mental health disorders that might be best treated with this type of therapeutic modality. Suggest other evidence-based practices your peer may not have considered in his or her assessment.
Consider the population your colleague identified and explain whether or not the geographical location of that population would impact his or her ability to deliver e-therapy. Suggest any additional ethical and/or professional issues your colleague might encounter in the delivery of e-therapy with the identified population, as well as any additional risks and/or benefits e-therapies might have. (PLEASE SEE Ladonna Taylor and Shanekwa Post Below) DUE MAY 2, 2021
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Ladonna Taylor Week 4 Post
In 2020 a supposed flu-like disease hit the United States in February, by the end of March, the entire world was in the grips of a global pandemic. Going to the doctor took on a new look with the expansion of telehealth. Telehealth means health services are delivered through electronic means when and where you need them (Van Allen, 2011). The effectiveness of psychiatry is sometimes difficult to demonstrate, however, client’s suffering from mild to moderate mental health disorders reported feeling better after 10 weeks of treatment via telehealth (Novotney, 2017). The video “Virtual Clinic” highlights one patient who felt so great after treatment that he called a local radio station reporting that he was “liking life again” (Arnott, 2009). Client’s suffering from more severe mental health disorders find telehealth as a good starting point, helping to make them feel more comfortable about seeing a clinician in person (Novotney, 2017). Cognitive-behavioral techniques have successfully integrated into telehealth and the results are as long-lasting as if given face to face (Arnott, 2009).
In week one I welcomed all clients on the website I created, but my primary focus was those who needed motivational counseling. I believe telehealth would work well for my specialty group, however, I feel as if some things can get lost in “translation”. If you have ever tried to figure out the tone of a text you know it can be, confusing, disturbing or flat out confusing. I would not mind the initial consultation being via the internet, eventually, I want to meet them in person to solidify the bond we built online, and pick up on nonverbal cues that I may have missed. One issue with telehealth is if you have a client that is threatening suicide who lives in Hawaii and you live in Texas, what do you do? If you do not have a physical address, which most times you will not, and no software to trace IP addresses, again what do you do? This is a huge concern surrounding telehealth (Connolly, 2019).
Section 4 Privacy and Confidentiality gives a broad overview on protecting client information, however, in this digital age, the potential for errors in ethics violations is rampant. A secure email was sent from a psychologist to the custodial caseworker concerning a minor and because the caseworker was retiring, they forwarded the email to the new caseworker who inherited the case. Within a few days, emails from strangers were flooding the psychologist’s email box. The new caseworker did not have all the information, so the email was forwarded and forwarded again to others familiar with the case (Van Allen, 2011). A school psychologist who works from home uses an iPad to check flight information for an upcoming vacation and inadvertently leaves it unlocked to get a snack from the kitchen. A teenager in the home mistakes the iPad for their own and unintentionally reads confidential information on a classmate (Van Allen, 2011). Clinicians must be vigilant in protecting their clients information.
Arnott, I. (Producer). (2009). Virtual clinic (Links to an external site.) (Links to an external site.) [Video file]. Retrieved from https://fod.infobase.com/OnDemandEmbed.aspx?Token=47751&aid=18596&Plt=FOD&loid=0&w=640&h=480&ref
Connolly, S.L., Miller, C.J., Lindsay, J.A., & Bauer, M.S. (2019). A systematic review of providers’ attitudes toward telemental health via videoconferencing (Links to an external site.). Clinical Psychology: Science and Practice.
Novotney, A., (2017). A growing wave of online therapy. Retrieved from: https://www.apa.org/monitor/2017/02/online-therapy
Van Allen, J., & Roberts, M. C. (2011). Critical incidents in the marriage of psychology and technology: A discussion of potential ethical issues in practice, education, and policy. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 42(6), 433–439. https://doi-org.proxy-library.ashford.edu/10.1037/a0025278
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Shaniqua Jones Week 4 Post
Early 2020 everything changed, Prior to Covid we could travel and live life freely which has taken a drastic change. Federal regulations have mandated social distancing throughout the united states. Some states have looser restrictions than others when it comes to opened businesses but federal mask mandates and distancing is required. Technology is now the way of life and TeleHealth therapy has been in popular demand. Studies have shown that patients expressed a decline in depression and anxiety type disorder symptoms during telehealth, but has plenty of positives. Cognitive-behavioral techniques have successfully integrated into telehealth and the results are as long-lasting as if given face to face (Arnott, 2009). Telehealth gives clients in this time of Covid peace of mind, reduced stress, and enhanced care within the comfort of their own personal space or home.
When ethics are being considered we have to ensure there is informed consent and make sure that the client fully understands the specifics of telehealth as well as signed everything. Even after ensuring the client has signed it is a must that you mention those things verbally as well. The client should be aware of all expectations of using telehealth when it comes to technical requirements and requirements when it comes to the location the session will be taking place or any background concerns so that there are no distractions. There will be additional risks that will be different than with face-to-face meetings. Reimbursement for services may involve many parties and be quite complicated. HIPPA laws are about privacy and health information is protection. These laws apply to the transmission of insurance payments. (Baker and Bufka, 2011). The telehealth platform should comply with all HIPAA regulations and the client should be aware of who has access to the telehealth feeds.
When it came to my website, I did not have a specific targeted audience. I would be able to utilize telehealth services for all my clients. The only clients i sense may have a hard time are children. Their parents need to have the ability to set everything up correctly to utilize telehealth but then we would have to ensure the child is comfortable speaking aloud and has privacy to get the full benefit of utilizing counseling. The benefit of telehealth if that you can still pay close attention to cues, body language, facial expressions, etc.
References
Arnott, I. (Producer). (2009). Virtual clinic (Links to an external site.) (Links to an external site.) [Video file]. Retrieved from https://fod.infobase.com/OnDemandEmbed.aspx?Token=47751&aid=18596&Plt=FOD&loid=0&w=640&h=480&ref
Baker, D. C., & Bufka, L. F. (2011). Preparing for the telehealth world: Navigating the legal, regulatory, reimbursement, and ethical issues in an electronic age. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 42(6), 405-411. doi:10.1037/a0025037
Harris, E., & Younggren, J. N. (2011). Risk management in the digital world. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 42(6), 412-418.
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