Continuing Education Course: Safety Planning and Management in Telehealth (4 CEs, 1 Ethics)
Telehealth is a unique specialization that requires specific skills in order to be administered effectively, and safety is an essential component of any telehealth practice. Our top priority with our clients is their safety, and many providers report feeling uncertain about their ability to identify and manage safety concerns.
When providing telehealth services, providers must pay special consideration to safety issues and address unique considerations that arise in this setting. Even providers who do not specialize in client populations with safety concerns must have the capacity to screen for these issues and address them if they come up in sessions.
This course discusses the research behind telehealth as a method of service delivery for clients with safety issues, including suicidality, self-harm, and abuse. It covers ethical considerations and applicable laws related to mandated reporting, crisis intervention, and provision of emergency mental health services. It provides treatment recommendations for chronic safety issues, including treating underlying issues that can cause suicidal thoughts, privacy for those living in unsafe situations, and assessing for appropriateness of telehealth as a method of service delivery.
Upon completion of this course, participants will have the tools to identify and manage safety issues in the telehealth setting. They will have examples for informed consent policies and safety procedures, with the tools needed to create their own policies. Finally, they will have an understanding of supporting clients with safety issues in the telehealth setting.