Hi Everyone!

I invite you to join me and over 10 other expert speakers for a complementary Therapist Resource Telesummit. Over three days, you will have access to some incredible information on how to create an authentic and profitable therapy business, helping many more clients. I will be discussing online therapy and I am thrilled to be joining such a dynamic group of speakers!

See details here:
Therapists Resource FREE Telesummit March 12 – 14

You’ll discover:

* How to stop giving your money away to insurance companies and the biggest mistakes therapists make in building a successful fee-for-service therapy business

* How to help your potential clients TALK THEMSELVES into working with you and what you’ll need to know to attract way more clients without compromising your values

* The mindset shift and business model change you need to learn so you can easily double your current income

* How to use coaching to build a fee-for-service practice making six to seven figures a year

* The reason why you may be procrastinating in your business and the biggest gift you can offer your clients

* The marketing approach that helps your community, while growing your practice at the same time

* How to expand your practice using text-based therapy: what you need to know about using email and chat with your clients- everything from encryption, client screening, and cyber-cultural awareness

* How to create a signature presentation that leaves your potential clients asking for more

* Practical tools you can use to earn expert status and how to utilize technology and marketing strategies to engage clients, build credibility, and earn loyalty

* Specific ways social media improves your visibility online and how to use directories and google local business center to gain exposure and attract new clients

* How online networking sites and technology can bring therapists, students, and interested professional together in a global web community, maximizing your practice exposure

And so much more!

Join me!

March 12th, 13th and 14th, 2010
Register and see details here:
Therapists Resource FREE Telesummit March 12 – 14

Wishing everyone the best!

DeeAnna

Exciting development from the OCTIA organising team. On the Friday night of the conference (19th March) there will be a “meet the authors” session before dinner.

I will be there to discuss “Therapy Online [a practical guide] (Anthony and Nagel, 2010), and Dr. Stephen Goss will talk about the forthcoming title “The Use of Technology in Mental Health: Applications, Ethics and Practice” (Anthony, Nagel & Goss, 2010). We will also refer back to the original UK text on the topic “Technology in Counselling and Psychotherapy: A Practical Guide” (Goss & Anthony, 2003).

Anne Stokes and Gill Jones will consider their 2009 book “Online Counselling”, and Jane Evans will discuss “Online Counselling and Guidance Skills: A Practical Resource for Trainees and Practitioners” (2009).

Also great to welcome Jethro Adlington to talk about “Online Therapy – Reading Between The Lines – A practical NLP based guide to online counselling and therapy skills” (2009).

All these books and more are available from the OTI bookstore at http://www.onlinetherapyinstitute.com/bookstore/

Looking forward to it!

Kate

The Online Therapy Institute is delighted to offer our new course on Online Supervision – text-based strategies. Please check . http://www.onlinetherapyinstitute.com/introduction-to-supervision/ to register for this 5 hour course.

During this course, you will learn about how the supervisory relationship works online, and the importance of secure communication between supervisor and supervisee. We will cover the use of technology historically in supervision to give you grounding in what is available to you for use in practice and to illustrate the usefulness of verbatim transcripts in particular. We will consider the ethical nuances of online supervision, the importance of contract formation, and also some of the boundary issues when being an available online supervisor in practice, particularly with regard to social networking functions of the Internet. Lessons include:

Traditional Uses of Technology
Suitability of the Supervisor
Written Communication Skills for Supervision
Ethical Considerations for the Use of Technology in Supervision
Individual and Group Case Examples
Learning Outcomes:
Participants will be knowledgeable about traditional uses of technology in supervision.

Participants will be able to apply written skills to text-based supervision via chat and email.

Participants will be informed about the ethical considerations for the use of technology in supervision .

Kate and DeeAnna met with Jokay today in Second Life to discuss new builds and additions to Online Therapy Institute’s virtual office. Currently, OTI has an office space that has an open concept. The office is used primarily as a place to gather more information about OTI. The space has been used for consultations and media interviews as well. (see The Coaching Commons:  Quick Video: A Voyage into the World of Virtual Coaching and InnerWorld Magazine Online Therapy Institute).

Now OTI is expanding inworld with a SkyBox build. The SkyBox will be located above the original office and will offer a therapy room, a small group room and a classroom.  A SkyBox location allows for more security so that others inworld cannot simply “drop in” at will. When conducting avatar therapy inworld, other measures will be utilized to ensure confidentiality such as encrypted chat and voice. Platforms like Skype can be used in conjunction with Second Life.

Jokay founded the Islands of Jokaydia where the OTI office is located. All of the residents of Jokaydia focus on education in one form or another so OTI found it to be a natural fit. Across the square from the OTI office is the office of OnlinEvents. John Wilson who owns OnlinEvents is also a therapist inworld. OTI and OnlinEvents collaborate frequently on projects and our new SkyBox will allow for even more diverse collaboration! Between the two offices will be the newly named “Therapy Square” offering resources for passersby.

Today Jokay showed Kate and DeeAnna a SkyBox space she has created for Charles Sturt School of Information Studies (also located inworld at Jokaydian Islands). This picture is at Charles Sturt’s space in Second Life.

The meet up with Jokay was great fun- it was like meeting with the builder and the decorator all at the same time! Kate and DeeAnna will keep you posted on the developments. In the meantime, visit us inworld!

The direct link is http://slurl.com/secondlife/jokaydia%20II/147/45/24.

Regards from the virtual world!

 

Be sure to follow all of us on twitter as well! @TherapyOnline @KateAnthony @jokay @OnlinEvents

The BACP Guidelines for Online Counselling and Psychotherapy are now in their 3rd Edition (Anthony & Goss, 2009 – see also Goss et al., 2001; Anthony & Jamieson, 2005) and now the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy have revised and amended the main Ethical Framework to reflect this (the full link is below, with references).

This embraces the importance of recognising online therapy – and indeed the function of technology in general –  as a vital component of the profession.

The new Ethical Framework states:

Variations in client needs and the diversity of settings within which counselling and psychotherapyservices are delivered have also been carefully considered. Clients vary in their requirements in order tocommunicate effectively and to gain access to services. Ethically aware services strive to meet theseneeds and to avoid excluding someone from receiving a service or lowering the quality of that servicesolely on the grounds of a client’s learning difficulty or physical disability. Services may be provided bythe independent practitioner working alone, one or more practitioners working to provide a service withinan agency or large organisation, specialists working in multidisciplinary teams, and by specialist teamsof counsellors and psychotherapists. Most work is undertaken face to face but there are also a growingnumber of telephone and online services. Some practitioners are moving between these different settingsand modes of delivery during the course of their work and are therefore required to consider whatconstitutes good practice in different settings. All practitioners encounter the challenge of responding tothe diversity of their clients and finding ways of working effectively with them. This statement thereforeresponds to the complexity of delivering counselling and psychotherapy services in contemporary societyby directing attention to significant issues that practitioners ought to consider and resolve in the specificcircumstances of their work.

The Online Therapy Institute embraces this amendment, as the work of BACP remains the basis of part of our own Ethical Framework for the Use of Technology in Mental Health (http://www.onlinetherapyinstitute.com/ethical-training/).

Kate

http://www.bacp.co.uk/ethical_framework/

Goss, S., Anthony, K., Jamieson, A. and Palmer, S. (2001) Guidelines for Online Counselling and Psychotherapy. Rugby: BACP.

Anthony, K. &  Jamieson, A. (2005) Guidelines for Online Counselling and Psychotherapy 2^nd Edition, including Guidelines for Online Supervision. Rugby: BACP.

Anthony, K. &  Goss, S. (2009) Guidelines for Online Counselling and Psychotherapy ^3rd Edition, including Guidelines for Online Supervision. Rugby: BACP.

The Online Therapy Institute is pleased to launch a series of online courses about online therapy.  We will be adding courses so do check back. Our 5 clock hour courses are reasonably priced at $69.99/£45.00. For an additional $25.00 we offer continuing education credits for most mental health disciplines in the United States. Currently our courses also qualify for Registered Social Worker professional development in Canada. We have also applied for PDH course approval for Certified Employee Assistance Professionals (CEAP) as well.

We will be adding new continuing education/professional development opportunities so if you would like our courses to count toward requirements in your country, please let us know and will will gladly look into it!

Our current list of courses:

.

Introduction to Cyberspace: A Primer for Helping Professionals

Relationships in Cyberspace: An Introduction for Helping Professionals

The Online Therapeutic Relationship: Theoretical Considerations

Ethical Considerations of Online Therapy

Working Therapeutically Using Asynchronous Email

Working Therapeutically Using Synchronous Chat

Continuing Education is available for U.S. psychologists, social workers, counselors, addiction specialists, marriage and family therapists, nurses and educators.

Our courses are co-sponsored by R. Cassidy Seminars.  You will take a test and receive a certificate of completion within the course module but if you are a practitioner in the U.S. and you wish to obtain accredited continuing education hours, the cost is an additional $25.00 per workshop.

Online Therapy Institute Accreditation

Co- sponsored by R. Cassidy Seminars

Satisfactory Completion

Participants must have paid course fee, submitted signed verification statement, completed evaluation, and completed post-test with passing grade of 75% in order to receive a certificate. Failure to complete and submit these materials will result in forfeiture of credit for the entire course. No exceptions will be made. Partial credit is not available.

Psychologists

R. Cassidy Seminars is approved by the American Psychological Association (APA) to offer continuing education for psychologists.  R. Cassidy Seminars maintains responsibility for this program.

Also covers LPCs, MFTs, and SWs in the District of Columbia

Social Workers

R. Cassidy Seminars, ACE provider #1082 is approved as a provider for social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) www.aswb.org, through the Approved Continuing Education (ACE) Program. Approval Period: April 15, 2009-April 15, 2012. R. Cassidy Seminars maintains responsibility for the program. Social workers should contact their regulatory board to determine course approval. Social workers will receive __#__ continuing education (clinical, social work ethics) clock hours in participating in this course.

Covers Social Workers in these states: AL, AK, AR, AZ, CT, DE, FL, GA, ID, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, MA, MD, MI, MN, MO, MS, MT, NC, ND, NE, NJ, NM, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, VA, VT, WA, WI, WY. Also covers Licensed Professional Counselors in PA

DC: See approval for Psychologists

CA: Course meets the qualifications for (#) hours of continuing education credit for MFTs and/or LCSWs as required by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences, Provider #PCE418.

OH: Provider approved by the Ohio Counselor, Social Worker and Marriage and Family Therapist Board for ( ) clock hours, #RCST110701

Counselors

R. Cassidy Seminars is recognized by the National Board for Certified Counselors to offer continuing education for certified counselors.  We adhere to NBCC continuing education guidelines.  Provider #6375.  (#) hours.

AK, AL, AR, AZ, CT, DE, GA, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MN, MS, MT, NC, ND, NH, NJ, NM, OK, OR, RI, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, VT, WA, WI, WV, WY.

OH: Provider approved by the Ohio Counselor, Social Worker and Marriage and Family Therapist Board for ( ) clock hours, #RCST110701

Marriage and Family Therapists

AK, AL, AR, AZ, CT, FL, IA, ID, IN, KS, MD, ME, MT, NE, NJ, NM, OK, OR, RI, SD TN, UT, VA, WA, WY. See approval for Counselors.

DC & MS: See approval for Psychologists

CA: Course meets the qualifications for (#) hours of continuing education credit for MFTs and/or LCSWs as required by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences, Provider #PCE418

IL: Illinois Dept of Professional Regulation, Approved Continuing Education Sponsor, #168-000141.  (#) hours.

OH: Provider approved by the Ohio Counselor, Social Worker and Marriage and Family Therapist Board for ( ) clock hours, #RCST110701

TX: Approved CE Sponsor through the Texas State Board of Examiners of Marriage & Family Therapists. Provider #151

Chemical Dependency Counselors

Provider approved by NAADAC Approved Education Provider Program for (#) contact hours.  Approval #000654.

CA: Provider approved by CAADAC, Provider #4N-00-434-0210 for (#) CEHs. CAADAC is an ICRC member which has reciprocity with most ICRC member states

TX: Provider approved by the TCBAP Standards Committee, Provider No. 1749-06, (#) hours general and/or (#) hours (specific specialization), Expires 3/2009.  Complaints about provider or workshop content may be directed to the TCBAP Standards Committee, 1005 Congress Avenue, Ste. 460, Austin, Texas 78701, Fax Number (512) 476-7297.

Nurses

CA: Provider approved by the CA Board of Registered Nursing, Provider #CeP12224, for (#) contact hours.

Teachers/Educators

IL: Provider approved by the Illinois State Board of Certification #080304164719171

TX: R. Cassidy Seminars is an approved provider with the Texas Education Agency CPE# 501456. This course is (#) CE Hours.

Please Note: Licensing Boards change regulations often and while we attempt to stay abreast of their most recent changes, if you have questions or concerns about this course meeting your specific board’s approval, we recommend you contact your board directly to obtain a ruling.

I recently read an article entitled Google’s Email Security Change does not make Online Counseling Secure. I was interested in the article because I was aware of Google’s recent change to an HTTPS default setting for Gmail. And I agree with the writer of the article that this is not a HIPAA compliant service since the HTTPS simply means that when you login to your Gmail account, you are more secure, particularly if you are logging in from a wifi hot spot. It does not mean however, that emails sent from a Gmail account are encrypted as explained in this WIRED article entitled  Google Turns on Gmail Encryption to Protect Wi-Fi Users.

So I thought I would go to the source- at least the most accurate source I know of- to give us all  the answers.

For years I have used Hushmail email services with clients to ensure my email exchanges are encrypted. The service is easy and affordable. In fact Hushmail offers a free account too. That can be handy if a client only needs an account temporarily while working with a therapist online.  The service is HIPAA compliant and Hushmail is willing to sign a HIPAA Business Associate Agreement (required in the United States). The agreement means that any 3rd parties that may be privy to confidential client information understand their responsibility to keep the information confidential.

I emailed Hushmail support and asked if they could explain more about their service and how encryption works. I asked specifically how Hushmail differs from Gmail. I received this response and I am posting the response here with permission:

Hello DeeAnna,

Thank you for your email and we are delighted to help with this.

Hushmail has been providing web-based secure email services for over a
decade now and uses the well known and well used OpenPGP standard for
encrypting email. We are a hosted service where users create accounts
on our servers and their email/data is stored securely on our servers.

All interactions a Hushmail user has with our servers are, and always
have been done over SSL (HTTPS), which provides a secure tunnel
between the users computer and our servers. If a Hushmail user sends a
message from one Hushmail user to another the email it will be sent
securely over its entire journey over SSL. Gmail is now doing the same
as we are, and we think this is a really good thing. Hushmail however
provides additional security in that users have the ability to easily
individually PGP encrypt their messages before sending them, encrypted
messages are also stored on our servers in an encrypted state. This
means that email has greater protection not only in transit, but also
when it is being stored.

One other area where Hushmail provides additional security is in that
with Hushmail you can send an encrypted message to a non-Hushmail
user, you do this by setting a shared secret as the key to encrypting/
decrypting the message. This is different to gmail in that the message
is individually encrypted (gmail messages are not) but also, once a
message is sent to a recipient outside of your network you may not
have control over whether the email is sent securely over SSL.
Individually encrypting your message resolves this issue.

We have many customers who use our service for counselling via email
and have been doing so for a long time.

If you have any further questions please do not hesitate to contact me.

Kind regards

Ben Cutler
Hush Communications
604 685 7288

I hope you find this explanation as helpful as I did. You can follow @hushmail on twitter. Oh, and Ben says if our readers mention Online Therapy Institute, he will give a discount on hushmail services! Thanks Ben for your time, expertise and a great service!!

Kate writes on the benefits and pitfalls of working and socialising in Cyberspace for the International Employee Assistance Professionals Association (EAPA).

Download the December 09 newsletter here!

Kate

The use of technology in several aspects of service provision – and particularly that of using the Internet to communicate with clients directly for the purpose of therapy – is an established and growing method of delivery. This workshop offers an introduction to online therapy, suitable for all theoretical orientations and levels of service provision, showing how online work can be integrated effectively into existing practice.
Kate Anthony will invite participants to explore their attitudes to working online and look at the differences and similarities to more traditional ways of working. She will take participants through the different types of technology being used in therapy, explain the theoretical model, demonstrate how online therapy works for both email and Internet Relay Chat with experiential exercises, and discuss the ethical implications inherent in working online with particular regard to social networking for professionals. Part of the day will be dedicated to couple counseling online.
Aims of the day:
• to give us confidence in relation to the use of technology
• to raise awareness of the ethics of online work
• to consider the particular issues related to counselling couples online.

Learning outcomes:
By the end of the day participants will:

• be aware of the range of technological interventions available
• understand the online therapeutic relationship
• understand the basics of online etiquette and written communication
• be aware of some of the pitfalls of social networking in the counseling profession
• have considered the ethical considerations of working online
• have had experiential learning of working with online clients
• have considered how couple counselling online could be conducted.

Teaching Format
A combination of presentations, discussion, and experiential smaller group work.

Presenter:
Kate is a Fellow of the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy, and developed and co-authored three editions of the Guidelines for Online Counselling and Psychotherapy, including Guidelines for Online Supervision. She is co-editor of Technology in Counselling and Psychotherapy – A Practitioners Guide, The Use of Technology in Mental Health: Applications, Ethics and Practice and co-author of Therapy Online [a practical guide]. She is also Past-President and Fellow of the International Society for Mental Health Online. She trains and consults on using technology in Mental Health as CEO of www.onlinetherapyinstitute.com. Free membership of the Institutes social network is at www.onlinetherapysocialnetwork.com, where over 450 professionals meet to discuss online therapy and use the Institute’s free resources.

Please contact Alice Still or Diana Reilly for more information.
Alice.still@relationships-scotland.org.uk
Diana.reilly@relationships-scotland.org.uk
Date:
Tuesday 9th March 2010
Time:
9.45am for 10.00am – 4.00pm
Venue:
Relationships Scotland
18 York Place, Edinburgh
Cost for Members of RS Network:
£75 to include training materials, sandwich lunch and refreshments.
Cost for Non-Members:
£115 as above.
Participants:
For relationship counsellors, sex therapists, and managers of services.

I will be traveling to the Phoenix area soon to facilitate another Distance Credentialed Counselor training.  The dates for this training are Feb 25 and Feb 26. I will be teaching the course at Rio Salado College in Tempe and would love to see you there!

The following week I will be in Lafayette, Louisiana.

Spring months take me to Florida, North Carolina, New Jersey, Illinois and Georgia.

SAMPLING OF THE 20 COMPETENCIES COVERED:

• Determine Counselor Suitability to Distance Counseling
• Determine Client Suitability to Distance Counseling
• Learn Security and Confidentiality Strategies
• Create Individual Treatment Plans
• Discuss Ethical and Legal Issues
• Develop an Action Plan to Implement Distance Counseling in Various Work Settings
• Learn about Online Culture
• Handle Crises with Distance Counseling Clients

For full workshop details go to ReadyMinds at http://www.readyminds.com/training/dcc_event.asp.

You can also download a flyer. DCC Arizona

My full training schedule is available at http://www.deeannamerznagel.com/id5.html.

Hope to see you on my travels!

DeeAnna