Introduction to Online Therapy Sex TherapyOnline PLLC Rhiannon

Introduction to Online Therapy Sex. Therapy-Online, PLLC Rhiannon Beauregard, MA, LMFT-S, CST Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist AASECT Certified Sex Therapist Specialist-Problematic Sexual Behavior 1

My Online Therapy Journey • Rhiannon Beauregard, MA, LMFT-S, CST is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Certified Sex Therapist • Licensed in five states: Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, and Texas • Have been doing online therapy since 2011, but transitioned as primary business in 2014 2

What’s Your Online Therapy Journey • Share with us: • Who are you? • Where are you located? • Where are you licensed and what is your licensure (LCSW, LMFT, LCMHC, etc. )? • What is your experience with online/distance based therapy? • What do you hope to get out of this training? 3

• • • Agenda for Today 10 am – 10: 15 am: Introduction to Presenter and Attendees 10: 15 am – 11: 15 am: Introduction to Online Therapy 11: 15 am – 11: 30 pm: BREAK- Ask questions, use restroom, self-care 11: 30 pm – 12: 30 pm: Laws, Rules, Regulations, and Ethics of Online Therapy, including Out-of-State Practice, Online Apps/Programs, International Online Therapy 12: 30 pm – 1 pm LUNCH 1 pm – 2: 00 pm: Logistics of Online Therapy: The How To’s including HIPAA Compliance 2: 00 -2: 45 pm: Risk Assessment and Crisis Management when Working Online 2: 45 – 3: 00 pm: BREAK- Ask questions, use restroom, self-care 3: 00 pm – 4: 00 pm: Advanced Concepts of Online Therapy: Online Therapy as a Model within Itself 4

What We Are Not Going to Cover Today • Billing and Insurance (please see prerequisite webinar) • Whether something is reimbursable by insurance (we will cover state law, ethical codes, and HIPAA) 5

Objectives for Today • Attendees will be able to identify the types of online therapy. • Attendees will be informed of the current rules, regulations, and best practices of conducting online therapy in New Hampshire, Maine, Massachusetts and beyond. • Attendees will be able to cite three possible benefits and three possible challenges to working online. 6

MATERIALS • All materials can be found on my website www. Sex. Therapy. Online. com/presentations 7

Person Centered-Tech • I like to approach this topic from the idea of “Person Centered-Tech” • This is a term coined by Roy Huggins who believes that client centered care and technology can be harmonious and mutually beneficial. • Some of this information in this presentation can be credited to his work • Lets move away from FEAR and embrace tech as a way to ENHANCE therapy 8

What is Online Therapy Known By Many Names • Telehealth • Telemental Health • Distance-Therapy • Distance-Based • Online Therapy • Technology Assisted Services • Telepsychology • Any other terms? 9

TYPES OF TECHNOLOGY ASSISTED THERAPY 10

TYPES OF TECHNOLOGY ASSISTED THERAPY VIDEO CONFERENCING • Various Platforms with a variety of features: • • Secure Video Simple Practice has a built in platform Vsee (free and pay) Doxy. me (free) g-suite Google meet. google. com Theralink What are other people using? 11

TYPES OF TECHNOLOGY ASSISTED THERAPY TELEPHONE CALLS • Many clients chose this option • Prefer the anonymity or a good alternative to lack of internet connection for video conferencing • Older and less tech savvy clients are often more comfortable using the phone 12

TYPES OF TECHNOLOGY ASSISTED THERAPY TEXT/ONLINE CHATS/EMAIL THERAPY • Using a secure chat function of a telehealth platform is my best advice for this • Many younger client prefer to work in a text based world around therapeutic issues • This is a great inclusive alternative to meet the needs of clients with special needs (expressive/receptive language issues, deaf/hard of hearing, English as a second language) 13

TYPES OF TECHNOLOGY ASSISTED THERAPY COMING VERY SOON (AND ALREADY HERE) • Virtual Reality Therapy • Augmented Reality Therapy • Online Video Gaming Therapy https: //youtu. be/LRL 0 Tzr. Nt. Vc

WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE AT SEXTHERAPY-ONLINE, PLLC 15

Sex. Therapy-Online, PLLC Studio 16

Sex. Therapy-Online Studio 17

Benefits of Technology Assisted Therapy • Accessibility • • • Clients with special needs Clients with special circumstances Rural population Hearing/speech impairment Comfortability Convenience Increase client compliance Flexible hours for client Flexible hours for therapist Good on the environment Reach more clients More marketing area • Allows clients to be flexible on when they see you in office or online • Allows you to access clients in different locations • Some clients prefer talking about things in a more comfortable place • Some clients can’t tolerate intimacy of therapy rooms and online work might be a good stepping stone 18

Benefits of Technology Assisted Therapy • Saves money • Invest in your own office space • Self-care can be easier • More relaxed • Allows you to see clients in their natural environment which might give you important information • Accommodates for weather/travel considerations • More in line with the way that clients communicate with each other these days • Many issues relate to the internet • WHAT ARE OTHER BENEFITS? 19

Challenges of Technology Assisted Therapy • Dealing with restrictive licensing laws and boards with bias towards technology • Laws, ethics, regulations vary • Boards are just developing rules and regulations, its hard to keep up • Fear • Lack of technology literacy • Expensive for good technology • New way of thinking • Your own bias towards technology • Other factors required to ensure confidentiality • Rapidly evolving field • HIPAA Compliance • Confusion/rumors • Poor internet connection/technology • Client bias to in person therapy 20

Challenges of Technology Assisted Therapy • Fees/Insurance/Billing • Liability • Risk Management • WHAT ARE OTHER CHALLENGES WE FACE WITH TECHNOLOGY ASSISTED THERAPY? 21

10 Reasons Why Sex. Therapy-Online is a Good Choice for Your Clients 1. Accessibility 2. Privacy 3. The dreaded waiting area in a sex therapist's office 4. Difficulty communicating about sex in person 5. Convenience 6. Allows you to see the client in their natural environment 7. Treatment of internet related issues using the internet makes sense 8. Increases therapeutic opportunities for all 9. Good for the environment 10. It's an effective MODEL of therapy in and of itself, not just a way to deliver therapy to someone at a distance 22

Any Questions? 23

Contact Rhiannon C. Beauregard, MA, LMFT-S, CST, S-PSB Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, & Texas www. Sex. Therapy-Online. com rhiannon@sextherapy-online. com rhiannon. c. beauregard@gmail. com Phone: 603. 770. 5099 Phone: 512. 765. 4741 Fax: 888. 288. 8495 Follow me on Facebook: @Rhiannon. Beauregard. CST Watch my You. Tube Channel: Rhiannon@Sex. Therapy-Online. com 24