ABSTRACT
Our society has moved towards the use of technology in most aspects of our lives. It is no surprise that mental health education and treatment are moving in a similar direction. Some research looking at the different therapy modalities of audiovisual, audio, and text communication found that they provide equal benefits when compared to in-person therapy and that they may offer certain advantages (Anthony, Nagel & Goss, 2010). As patients demand access to mental health treatments beyond the clinic or private office, therapists are offering technologically mediated therapies (commonly known as telemental health) as part of their practices. Yet educational programmes often lag behind patients’ and therapists’ interest in treatment that is not place- or time-bound. A significant number of clinicians who have no preparation for conducting treatments outside the consulting room are not prepared for the multiple issues inherent in the use of technology to deliver services. The purpose of this chapter is to clarify some of the major ethical, legal, and practice issues therapists should consider when preparing to deliver mental health services through the use of technology.
