Course Description

Many therapists and counselors are interested in online practice, but reluctant due to concerns about legal and ethical compliance. This course addresses a number of specific legal and ethical issues that can arise in the provision of telehealth, focusing on specific and practical solutions that allow therapists and clients alike a smooth, effective, and compliant telehealth process.

1 Hour CE. Recorded Video Format (non-interactive)

Learning Objectives

By the end of this workshop, participants will be able to:

  • Identify resolutions for at least three legal concerns commonly associated with telehealth practice

  • Identify and access at least one best-practices document, beyond statutes and ethics codes, appropriate to the participant's practice

  • Differentiate between therapy and coaching, including risks for therapists who differentiate what they call their service based on the method of delivery

Course Outline

1. Defining telehealth

2. Legal issues

a. Practicing across state lines

b. Differences between state lines

c. HIPAA

3. Ethical issues

a. Scope of competence

b. Informed consent

c. Risks and benefits

d. Security and confidentiality

e. Policy needs


References

Included Resources

  • Best Practices for Telehealth and Additional Resources

Reviews

Telehealth Continuing Education Course

Arielle Feggins

This course was phenomenal. It allowed me to get a good overview of ethical and legal considerations as I jump into telehealth as an associate licensed counselor. The presenter was engaging, even with it being a recorded webinar. I look forward...

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This course was phenomenal. It allowed me to get a good overview of ethical and legal considerations as I jump into telehealth as an associate licensed counselor. The presenter was engaging, even with it being a recorded webinar. I look forward to more courses with this instructor! He did an awesome job!

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Excellent Course!

Candice Guilbeau

This course was very informative. I highly recommend it.

This course was very informative. I highly recommend it.

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Very Informative Training

Kristina Brewton

I really enjoyed this training. The information given was through and pertinent. It was easy to follow. I am so glad to have found it during the pandemic!

I really enjoyed this training. The information given was through and pertinent. It was easy to follow. I am so glad to have found it during the pandemic!

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Instructor

Benjamin Caldwell, PsyD, LMFT

Benjamin Caldwell, PsyD is a California Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (#42723). He currently serves as adjunct faculty for California State University Northridge in Los Angeles. He has taught at the graduate level for more than 15 years, primarily in Law and Ethics, and has written and trained extensively on ethical applications in mental health care. In addition to serving a three-year term on the AAMFT Ethics Committee, Dr. Caldwell served as the Chair of the Legislative and Advocacy Committee for AAMFT-California for 10 years. He served as Editor for the Users Guide to the 2015 AAMFT Code of Ethics, Chair of the workgroup that developed Best Practices in the Online Practice of Couple and Family Therapy, and author of several books, including Saving Psychotherapy and Basics of California Law for LMFTs, LPCCs, and LCSWs.

Dr. Caldwell led the AAMFT workgroup that developed Best Practices in the Online Practice of Couple and Family Therapy.

Additional Information

Format and Length:

Recorded video format (non-interactive). Total running time 64 minutes.

Topic Area:

Law & Ethics

NAADAC Counselor Skill Group 8: Legal, Ethical, and Professional Development

Instructional Level:

Intermediate. This course presumes basic legal and ethical knowledge surrounding counseling and psychotherapy, but does not presume knowledge specific to legal and ethical issues in telehealth.

Completion Requirements:

To obtain your CE certificate, you must progress through all course segments, complete a satisfaction survey, and obtain a score of 80% or higher on a course completion quiz. Learners are expected to complete the quiz within a reasonable number of attempts, and may be blocked from completing the course and receiving their certificate if unable to do so.

Completion Quiz and Course Evaluation:

After watching course videos, the course completion quiz will be available to complete, followed by the course evaluation.

Who Should Attend:

Psychologists, counselors, masters or doctoral level clinical social workers, and marriage and family therapists.

Enrollment Period:

90 days

Publication and Review Dates:

Course published: October 19, 2019
Course reviewed: October 26, 2020

Financial Support Statement:

SimplePractice pays course presenters for their teaching. There is no other financial support for this course.

Conflict of Interest Statement:

There is no potential conflict of interest or outside commercial support for this course.

Refund Policy:

Click here to see our policies on attendance, refunds, grievances, and accessibility, and other frequently asked questions. Click here to contact us or submit a grievance.

Contact Information:

For any inquiries related to subject matter guidance, correction, grading, comments, or problem resolution please contact us.

System Requirements:

Please ensure your device meets our system requirements.

Continuing Education Approvals:

SimplePractice is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. SimplePractice maintains responsibility for this program and its content. This course provides 1 hour of continuing education (1 CE credit) for psychologists.

SimplePractice has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 6961. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. SimplePractice is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.

SimplePractice has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 6961. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. SimplePractice is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.

SimplePractice, #1749, is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved as ACE providers. State and provincial regulatory boards have the final authority to determine whether an individual course may be accepted for continuing education credit. Simple Practice maintains responsibility for this course. ACE provider approval period: 07/06/2021 – 07/06/2024. Social workers participating in this course will receive 1 continuing education credit in the Ethics topic area.

SimplePractice is approved by the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists to sponsor continuing education for LMFTs, LPCCs, LCSWs, and LEPs (CAMFT CEPA provider #145276). SimplePractice maintains responsibility for this program and its content. This course meets the qualifications for 1 hour of continuing education credit for LMFTs, LCSWs, LPCCs, and/or LEPs as required by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences. 

SimplePractice is approved as a Rule/Statute Approved Provider of Continuing Education by the Florida Board of Clinical Social Work, Marriage & Family Therapy, and Mental Health Counseling. Note that we do not automatically report CE completion to CE Broker at this time, so certificates of completion must be manually uploaded. Click here for more information.

SimplePractice LLC is recognized by the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers #SW-0582. 

SimplePractice LLC is recognized by the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Psychology as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed psychologists #PSY-0030.

SimplePractice LLC is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed marriage and family therapists #MFT-0091.

SimplePractice LLC is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed mental health counselors. #MHC-0206.

This course has been approved by SimplePractice, as a NAADAC Approved Education Provider, for 1 Hour CE. NAADAC Provider #186410. SimplePractice is responsible for all aspects of their programming. Click here to view our complete CE approval information.