Telepsychology training in a public health crisis: A case example
Date
2020
Journal Title
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Volume Title
Publisher
Counselling Psychology Quarterly
Abstract
In early 2020, the world was thrust into a crisis with the advent of the
COVID-19 pandemic. This resulted in the sudden expansion of telepractice in the mental health field for licensed mental health providers
and trainees. Prior to the pandemic, few mental health training programs provided training opportunities in telehealth service delivery.
The Texas A&M Telebehaviroal Care Program (TBC) is one of a few
telemental health training programs in the world. The TBC has provided telehealth services to rural and underserved populations since
2009 with a hub and spoke model of care, but due to constraints
related to the pandemic has recently transitioned to an all in-home
model of telehealth service delivery. The present paper highlights
recent policy changes to in-home telepractice and the TBC methodology for transitioning to in-home service delivery. Results include solutions to common pitfalls in areas such as communication and logistics,
clinical supervision and consultation, and boundary setting.
Recommendations are also provided for the development of training
programs throughout the world to equip mental health trainees in
telehealth service delivery. Mental health practitioners are poised to
thrive in the face of adversity during the COVID-19 pandemic and
trainees should not be left behind.
Description
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Keywords
telehealth, treatment, training, counseling, COVID 19
Citation
McCord, C. E., Console, K., Jackson, K., Palmiere, D., Stickley, M., Williamson, M. L. C., & Armstrong, T. W. (2020). Telepsychology training in a public health crisis: a case example. Counselling Psychology Quarterly, 1-16.