Media Scrutinizes Online Therapy: New Video Addresses Professional Responsibilities

SAN DIEGO, Calif. - September 28, 2011 – Following recent high profile media coverage of online therapy (New York Times -- When Your Therapist is Only a Click Away -- featuring Marlene M. Maheu, Ph.D. and the growth of her telemental health practice, professionals throughout the world have been flooding her inbox with email inquiries. In response, Dr. Maheu has created a video to address some of the most frequently asked professional questions raised by the article, outlining some of the primary legal and ethical issues that practitioners and consumers may benefit from understanding prior to connecting online, whether that connection involves audio, email, text messaging, videoconferencing or even a smartphone. Access video at http://telementalhealth.com/

“In mental health, the new technologies are very exciting, allowing mental health professionals to responsibly deliver needed services to people who otherwise would not get help,” explains Dr. Maheu, who heads the TeleMental Health Institute, Inc, the leading online telemental health training institute, devoted exclusively to addressing the emerging opportunities and challenges of telepsychiatry, telepsychology, online counseling, online therapy and coaching. “Using the right videoconferencing technology, telehealth is proven safe and effective, client satisfaction is high, and insurance companies are starting to pay for such services, including Medicare and Medicaid in limited circumstances.”

She points out that unfortunately, a large number of mental health professionals have not been heeding their legal or ethics codes, largely because they don't understand how existing codes are relevant.
“Professionals need to be properly trained,” she emphasizes. “Many have already begun serving consumers online without thinking through key issues, including professional licensing, the need for an initial in-person assessment by a trained professional, possible abuse, security and fraud. There are also technical complications that can all too easily interfere with clinical care. “

About Telemental Health Institute
Dr. Maheu has been involved in telehealth since 1994. She chaired the first task force to address telehealth at the American Psychological Association in 1995, and has since chaired or participated in over a dozen other task forces, committees and study groups at the American Psychological Association, American Telemedicine Association, American Counseling Association and others. She has been the lead author on two telehealth-related professional academic and professional books, and authored dozens of book chapters and articles on topics related to telehealth, telemental health, online counseling and online therapy. She is the Executive Director of the TeleMental Health Institute. For more information: http://telementalhealth.com/marlene-maheu

Dr. Maheu (Maheu, 2003) and colleagues (Maheu, Pulier, McMenamin, Wilhelm, Brown-Connelly, 2004) have advanced the Online Clinical Practice Management (OCPM) model, which is a quick approach to understanding and implementing the underlying legal, regulatory and ethical issues involved with telepractice in telehealth. Those issues are grouped into these categories: professional training; referrals; patient education; intake & assessment; legalities (informed consent, HIPAA, licensure); direct clinical care; and reimbursement.
Maheu, M. M., Pulier, M. L., Wilhelm, F. H., McMenamin, J., & Brown-Connolly, N. (2004). The mental health professional and the new technologies: A handbook for practice today. Mahwah, NJ: For more information: http://telementalhealth.com/