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Welcome! Today’s episode is Part 2 of last week’s session with Clay Cockrell, LCSW in NY. Listen to Part 1 if you haven’t yet, and then you will have a comprehensive picture of what Online Counseling can do for YOUR practice. Let’s jump right in!
- The WHY of Online Counseling:
- Connect with clients worldwide
- Flexibility and convenience for therapists and clients
- Therapists and clients can even travel and continue therapy work through “distance counseling.”
- Lower overhead costs
- The WHEN of Online Counseling:
- Consider time zones (see our Resources section for a helpful tool.)
- Set parameters for scheduled days/hours
- The WHERE of Online Counseling:
- Consider state licensure (covered in detail in Part 1)
- Skype is not HIPAA compliant, but other web platforms are free or available for a small fee. (See Resources below for more info.)
- Best Practices for Online Counseling:
- Make sure you have informed consent.
- Have a Plan B for technical difficulties.
- Make sure the lighting source is not behind you.
- Look at the camera at eye level and back away for best eye contact.
- Use ear buds for sound.
- Be aware of what you are conveying and what’s visible behind you—Stay professional!
- Clay discusses the details of his Online Directory for Online Counseling. “There is a world in need—in pain—out there, and we can meet those needs like never before.”
Resources:
www.onlinecounseling.com (Clay offers a 20% discount on his online directory service for STC listeners. Use promo code “Couch 2016.”)
Email Clay: clay@onlinecounseling.com
Online Therapy Institute
www.elementalhealthtraining.com
www.behavioralhealthinnovation.com (Jay Ostrowski has put together a platform comparison with ratings.)
www.personcenteredtech.com (Article by Roy Huggins)
www.tameyourpractice.com (Article by Rob Reinhardt)
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