Telemental Health Therapy Comparisons
This independent telemental health technology comparison site was created to help mental health providers and administrators identify the best therapy or technology resource for their online practice or network. Telemental health is also known by other names such as online counseling, online therapy, telepsychology, telepsychiatry, ecounseling, etherapy and others. Treating mental health issues through the internet can take many forms. Use this criteria-based comparison of mental health technologies and online therapy networks to find the right fit for your needs.
Whether you need a HIPAA or HITECH compliant video platform or encrypted email, the comparison will help you quickly identify the latest mental health technologies available. Choose your focus below. Then choose your technology criteria and the options will be presented to you. Add to the knowledge base by posting your comments for the platforms you have experienced or contact the company directly through the site to ask additional questions.
Start your search by choosing your focus.
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99 Technologies
57 Criteria
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36 Technologies
60 Criteria
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90 Technologies
57 Criteria
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70 Technologies
20+ Criteria
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| Compare telemental health technology options for solo or small group online therapy or telepsychiatry private practice. |
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Find or join a network of online mental health therapy providers. |
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Compare telemental health technologies specified for hospitals, agencies and large mental health groups who want to provide online therapy or telepsychiatry. |
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Find consumer focused counseling service websites and online therapist directories. |
Telemental Health Regulation, Certification and Training
Thirty-eight (38) state counseling boards now have policy regulating online counseling for the citizens of their state. Most state counseling licensing boards include the requirement that the counselor be licensed in the state in which the client resides. Arkansas has gone a step further in requiring a special license. Additionally, all major counseling, psychology and social work associations have endorsed telemental health services. Certification for online counseling is available through ReadyMinds.com. They offer training in the legal and ethical practices of online therapy which leads to the Distance Credentialed Counselor (DCC) certification. If you need help with service set up, Behavioral Health Innovation can help you choose a system, set up HIPAA and HITECH policies and protocols and provide expertise in marketing and business development in order to establish you online clientele. Additional training and support for online therapy can be found through the Online Therapy Institute, Telemental Health Institute and the Zur Institute. The American Telemedicine Association and Hands On Telehealth both provide great insights and resources for the telehealth industry.
Technology Advancements in Online Counseling
Advances in encryption, video and cloud computing have created new possibilities for HIPAA compliant distance counseling. To date, there are over 100 mental-health-specific online counseling venues and over 30 online practice networks. Online counselors now have many inexpensive, HIPAA compliant options for video and text based counseling, even in low bandwidth areas. That makes it relatively simple to “Hang a shingle” online for a safe, ethical and legal online practice.
Government and Mental Health Industry Adoption of Online Therapy
As the industry continues to progress and become more widely accepted by clients and practitioners, online counseling is on course to become as mainstream as face-to-face counseling. The use of online counseling has been validated by the US Federal government and most states, as illustrated by the billons of dollars dedicated to setting up and delivering telemental health services through the DOD and the installment of the federal and regional offices advancing telehealth. http://www.telehealth.va.gov/, http://www.hrsa.gov/ruralhealth/about/telehealth/.
Reimbursement of Telemental Health
Reimbursement of online therapy has grown dramatically in the last few years as third party payers find it less expensive to provide outpatient video treatment services over even brief hospitalizations. In addition, 18 states now mandate reimbursement for video telemental health services at the same rate as face to face therapy and many more states have legislature moving toward a vote. Since the adoption of third party insurance payment is rapidly changing, counselors are advised to check regularly with insurance companies to see who is reimbursing for online therapy and at what rate. If you need assistance in developing or implementing a telemental health system please contact Jay Ostrowski through the contact link.
