Teletherapy during the COVID-19 Pandemic

By Pooja Mamidanna AMFT (103485)

The last few weeks have been stressful, challenging and a confusing time to all, trying to navigate ourselves during this pandemic. Globally we are currently functioning in crisis mode in our personal and professional lifestyles.

Most states have issued a “shelter in place”. During this time, I would like to provide you with some useful guidelines to help navigate through this process, for our mental health providers offering teletherapy and for mental health consumers seeking teletherapy.

A lot of health care professionals are moving towards Teletherapy to continue to provide support during this crisis.

What is Tele therapy?

Telehealth is provision of health care services, including mental health services via telephone, internet, or other electronic means.

Professionals who provide counseling or psychotherapy services in person or via telephone and internet must be licensed in their respective state (adhering to their state licensing guidelines).

How does it work for therapists?

A therapist must first assess if the client is suitable for telehealth.

A therapist must obtain informed consent from the client for teletherapy (This can be verbal or written, this consent must be documented in your progress notes).

It is important the consent from educates the client on prospective risks and limitations of obtaining services through telehealth.

The client must be provided the therapists licensing/registration number and the type of license/registration.

While documenting your progress notes it is useful to get from the client, their address of present location at the beginning of each telehealth therapy session.

It is also important for the therapist to document in their progress notes provision of emergency/crisis resources to client in their geographic area such as (Suicide hot line, crisis help line, 911, Mental Health Urgent Care, and Emergency Psychiatric Services).