The Ehealth, Telehealth and Telemedicine Blog

“Texting” with Mental Health Patients or Clients

Are you confused about what to do when a new patient “texts” you on your cell phone? Not sure what you need to document in your psychotherapy notes? What are your other legal requirements with respect to informed consent?

See this new article for related concerns, considerations and potential solutions. This article contains a discussion of 3 short vignettes about these and several more texting issues.

What’s Your Mental Health Professional Association Doing to Support Responsible Internet-based Telehealth Practice?

1. Are you aware of any other statements, ethical decisions, announcements or other documents for independent practitioners seeking guidance for practice through the Internet as produced by any of the large US professional associations?

2. Do you live in a country other than the US, and have a professional association that has published such a document?

If you are aware of any such resources, please leave links or details in the comments section below.

Mobile Apps: Their Impact on the Future of Counseling & Psychotherapy

Mobile, digital self-help is likely to soon outweigh what is happening on websites and once mobile apps get developed, they will be used far more than professional clinical mental health services. Clinicians will become more specialized. Mobile apps and other services available through desk-top computers will replace some of the more common, basic functions currently being served by the licensed professionals of today.

What Can We Learn from this “Innovation” Video Re: the Psychology of Online Interactivity?

The video I’m referencing below starts by looking at what works to make Facebook games so successful. It expands it the discussion to include video games, such as mafia wars and farmville. The professor in the video explains why he thinks the psychological factors underpinning those games have catapulted small websites into $300 million businesses in short periods of time.

Googling or Otherwise Searching for Information about Patients and Clients Online

Things rarely seem to be as clear as most of us would like when we look at professional issues online. Googling a prospective collaborator or colleague may be ok, but what about Googling a client or patient?

When you find relevant information, how much do you trust what you see?

What do you verify, and how much do you try to disregard?

Avoiding the “Medical Model” for Online Counseling, Psychotherapy and Telemental Health

Over the last few months, I’ve unfortunately had the occasion to hear a number of online practitioners claim that they do not adhere to the “medical model” but rather believe in the ” business model.” Somehow, these practitioners hold strong in the belief that online practice is not related to traditional practice in the brick-and-mortar world. This position is based in wishful thinking rather than fact.