The Ehealth, Telehealth and Telemedicine Blog

Ethical Fallacies in Online Counseling – Assessing Our Own Cognitive Distortions

Have you ever heard colleagues justify a questionable professional decision by stating she or he, “felt it was ok?” Or maybe they were  “just doing the same as the other professionals?” Or “it’s better to deliver some help rather than none at all?” Many practitioners deliver services online without adequate professional training. It also appears that many are making [...]

Video Makes The Case for Caution and Perspective in TeleMental Health and Coaching

Back in 1910, automobiles were just beginning to be mass-produced, roads were not paved, driver’s licenses were not issued, and people were experimenting with their new automobiles by driving everywhere they could, along dirt roads, over fields, any yes, into ditches. For a quick 10-minute video clip that illustrates how this analogy relates to telemental health and coaching, just look here: MP4 version or FLV version.

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.

Skype Security & Other VoIP Systems: The Future & How to Protect Yourself

As we’ve discussed in previews blog posts, Skype runs on a “Voice over Internet Protocol” or “VoIP” which apparently is the common platform for videoconferencing online. The security of VoIP-based platforms, as well as reliability are the two issues I like to explore today. As I look for potential sources of information about the security [...]

TIME Article: “Hello! Your Psychiatrist Will Skype You Now”

Whoooa! TIME’s headline implies that SKYPE is secure for telemental health. Is TIME sure this is true? Dr. Drell says videoconferencing is LIKE texting or Skype. He doesn’t say he is using texting or Skype for contact with patients, as the headline suggests.

Email, Chat Rooms and Skype for Online Counseling, Online Psychotherapy and TeleMental Health Care: The Automobile Analogy

Just because we have the ability to deliver services online in email, chat room or via public videoconferencing network such as Skype, utilizing those abilities for direct client or patient care isn’t yet prudent or professional.