Table 1|.
Therapists’ ethical and regulatory concerns about using telepsychology and telepsychology training needs.
| Survey on professional, ethical, and legal regulatory issues on telehealth training and practice (n = 768) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yes % (n) | Unsure % (n) | No % (n) | Other % (n) | |
| Does your malpractice carrier cover you for delivering telehealth services? | 66.7 (512) | 29.3 (225) | 0.3 (2) | 3.8 (29)a |
| Do you think it is ethical for licensed mental health professionals to deliver services online or via other telehealth technologies? | 95.7 (735) | 3.4 (26) | 0.8 (6) | |
| Do you believe it is legal to practice over state lines or national borders using telecommunications technology if you call yourself a “coach”? | 21.5 (165) | 35.0 (269) | 43.5 (334) | |
| Do you think it is legal for licensed professionals to provide services online to someone who is located in a state or country in which you are NOT licensed? | 11.7 (90) | 13.4 (103) | 74.9 (575) | |
| Do you think mental health practitioners should undergo any training about: [The technical issues of telehealth] | 87.1 (669) | 6.6 (51) | 6.3 (48) | |
| Do you think mental health practitioners should undergo any training about: [Clinical, legal, and/or ethical issues in telehealth] |
97.5 (749) | 1.4 (11) | 1.0 (8) | |
| Do you think the average mental health professional can effectively screen for “at risk” clients (dangerous to self or others) using telehealth technology? | 60.0 (461) | 30.2 (232) | 9.8 (75) | |
| Are you aware of any state or federal law/s or regulation/s that govern the delivery of counseling services provided online or via other telehealth technologies? | 74.6 (573) | – | 4.9 (38) | 20.4 (157)b |
| Are you certified to work with telepsychology/telehealth?(Please remember that this survey is anonymous and that most places do not require certification in telepsychology/telehealth in order to practice it) | 17.3 (133) | – | 82.7 (635) | |
| Did your Undergraduate or Graduate University program offer telepsychology/telehealth specific classes or content? | 4.3 (32) | – | 95.7 (717) | |
| Do you think that it would be helpful for professionals to have training on telepsychology/telehealth as a part of their professional Undergraduate university program or Graduate University program? | 90.4 (694) | – | 9.5 (73) | |
| What are your concerns about telehealth? (Select all that apply) | ||||
| Security/confidentiality or HIPAA compliance | 50.9 (391) | – | 49.1 (377) | |
| Equipment costs | 13.5 (104) | – | 86.5 (664) | |
| Licensure issues | 24.6 (189) | – | 75.4 (579) | |
| Lack of personal training or education in this area | 29.6 (227) | – | 70.4 (541) | |
| Lack of direction from my professional association | 13.3 (102) | – | 86.7 (666) | |
| Lack of available education or training programs in this area | 11.7 (90) | – | 88.3 (678) | |
| Lack of supporting research | 16.9 (130) | – | 83.1 (638) | |
| Inability to handle emergency situations | 48.7 (374) | – | 51.3 (394) | |
| Tried online therapy practice and decided it was not for me | 3.8 (29) | – | 96.2 (739) | |
| Don’t know how to get started with online practice | 1.4 (11) | – | 98.6 (757) | |
| Don’t understand issues involved with online practice | 2.3 (18) | – | 97.7 (750) | |
| Don’t have any concerns? | 8.7 (67) | – | 91.3 (701) | |
| Have you been volunteering your services online to help people through the novel-coronavirus pandemic? | 21.7 (167) | – | 78.3 (601) | |
a
Do not have malpractice insurance.
b
Some of them.