Talking Telemental Health During COVID-19

Why Should I Transition My Practice to Telemental Health?

Does the thought of communicating with someone through a webcam feel impersonal to you? Do you feel you cannot effectively practice quality mental healthcare through a screen? Have you tabled your practice indefinitely for fear of transferring to telemental health with the recurring thought: “I’ll just pick it back up when this is all over”? Or even worse still: Have you conducted your sessions via Zoom thus far but feel burnt out by the whole thing? 

If you answered ‘yes’ to any of those questions, this message is for you: We don’t know when the COVID-19 pandemic is going to be “over.” We don’t know when it is going to be safe to practice in person again, nor when your patients may feel comfortable transitioning back. But we do know that you have worked too hard and come too far to let your practice take a hit by not being there for your patients when they need you most. And unfortunate as it is, telemental health is currently the most feasible way to be there for your patients as fully as you possibly can under the given circumstances.​

Telehealth can be a daunting task. At first glance, it can feel cold and impersonal. You can feel like you have all of a sudden lost your charisma and efficacy to communicate with your patients. In fact, you might think your patients can’t possibly be gaining anything by talking to your pixelated face through a computer screen.

"By showing up, pixelated as you might be, you are saying to your patients, 'I am here for you come hell or high water. Your growth matters to me. Your mental health journey is important. YOU are important.'"

Steps to Transitioning Your Practice to Telemental Health

• Be sure you are practicing through a HIPAA compliant vendor. The following platforms operate as such and will enter into a business associate agreement with you to ensure the safety of your patients’ valued information. 
  • Skype for Business
  • Updox
  • V See
  • Zoom for Healthcare
  • doxy.me
  • Google G Suite Hangouts (paid version only)
  • Amazon Chime
  • GoTo Meetings
  • Spruce Health Care Messenger 
• Before practicing telehealth in a state you are not licensed in, be sure to cover your bases. People Center Tech offers a great resource on protecting your practice and remaining liable. 
• If you aren’t yet licensed in telemental health counseling, People Center Tech also offers a training course. Within 17 CE hours, you will be certified in Telemental Health Practice and HIPAA Security Compliance and well on your way to keeping your practice up and running. 
• Create a pandemic specific outcome assessment for your patients. They might be leery about telehealth themselves, and it is important they know you are thinking of them and their wellbeing. Outcome assessments should be a regular component of practicing good business in your private practice, so offering an abridged and accommodated version for the pandemic is also putting your entrepreneur mind to great use!
• Consider your patients’ individual needs. If you have patients without access to technology, can you direct them towards grants to acquire it? If they are without WiFi, can you help them think outside the box— perhaps they could sit outside your physical office, if you have one, and hop on the hot spot? If you have patients with neurodivergence issues that can’t bear seeing themselves on a screen, consider using an avatar or virtual reality system. This is the time to get creative! 
• Practice in front of a mirror if seeing yourself counseling on the screen makes you uncomfortable. There is no shame in honing your craft outside of your sessions. 
• Utilize our business consulting service. Dr. Cristina Smugala offers personalized coaching and consultation, and she can help you navigate these times in a way that is specific to your practice. Remember: What therapists should do globally is different than what you should do yourself. It is essential that you do what is best for your practice, as well as for yourself and your patients, and you might need someone to help you along in figuring that out. 

Most importantly, as you transition your practice to a telemental health platform, remember that you are also experiencing a lot of trauma this year. The pandemic is no easier on you than it is on anyone else, but there is a lot of weight on your shoulders to be a pinnacle of knowledge and a calming presence. Be kind to yourself; take care of yourself; and remember that you are a brilliant therapist.

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