Terry Casey – Ethics and Distance Therapy: Navigating the Most Challenging Issues with Teletherapy

Description

Handouts

Outline

Navigating Ethical Issues
The Multiple Perspective Model©: An effective and easy-to-use method
Step #1 – Evaluate the problem from the five key perspectives

• Ethical issues – applicable code(s) of ethics
• Legal issues – federal laws, state laws & licensing rules
• Clinical-therapeutic issues
• Institutional policies
• Therapist’s variables & issues

Step #2 – Identify, search & review the appropriate code(s) of ethics

• Foundational principles
• Standards
• Glossary or list of definitions

Step #3 – Consultation

• Consult with colleagues who you know well
• Consult with professionals who can be fully objective

Step #4 – Decision and documentation – Show your work!

• Who, what, where & when
• Narrative descriptions
• A guide for how to make your decision

Navigating Distance Therapy: The Six Keys to Distance Therapy
Key #1 – Technology must meet HIPAA requirements

• What HIPAA compliance means
• Business associates & BAAs
• When FERPA applies rather than HIPAA

Key #2 – Interjurisdictional practice

• Authority limits of state licensing boards
• Therapy for a client/patient who is in another state
• When the provider is in a state other than the one in which she/he is licensed

Key #3 – Competence

• State-mandated training requirements
• Actual competence to practice

Key #4 – Informed Consent

• Setting up a distance therapy-specific process
• Topics & issues to include in the process

Key #5 – Institutional / private practice policies

• The purpose of policies
• Considerations for writing policies

Key #6 – Insurance related issues

• Clients’ health insurance policies
• Coverage for distance therapy
• Limitations of benefits
• Provider’s liability insurance: Possible limitations

Distance therapy-related vignettes

Strategies & Methods for Avoiding Ethical and Legal Problems

• Secure Internet access
• Importance of business associate agreement (BAA)
• Telehealth laws app
• Certification in distance therapy
• Establish a separate informed consent process
• A communication and social media policy
• And lots more…

Faculty

Terry Casey, PhD Related seminars and products: 20

---

TERRY CASEY, PhD, is a licensed psychologist, HSP health service provider with over 30 years of professional experience, including a 16-year tenure as the director of counseling & psychological services for a non-profit agency with over 30 counselors at over a dozen locations. He is in private practice in Franklin Tennessee, teaches ethics and professional issues in counseling at Lipscomb University’s graduate program in clinical mental health counseling, and guest lectures at Trevecca Nazarene University’s PhD program in Clinical counseling. Dr. Casey also served for several years as the chair of the ethics committee for the Tennessee Licensed Professional Counselors’ Association and in an advisory capacity for graduate counseling programs at two universities. He has presented frequently on ethics to organizations such as the American Counseling Association, the Tennessee Licensed Professional Counselors Association, the Nashville Area Association of Christian Counselors, and others. For more information, visit his practice website at rencounselingtn.com.

Speaker Disclosures:

Financial: Dr. Terry Casey maintains a private practice. He is an adjunct faculty member at Lipscomb University. Dr. Casey receives a speaking honorarium from PESI, Inc.

Non-financial: Dr. Terry Casey is a member of the American Psychological Association and the American Counseling Association.