Introduction to TeleMental Health
Enroll in the Online Self-Study course and complete it at your own pace.
1 CE hour available for behavioral health clinicians upon completion.
As telehealth continues to expand access to mental health care, clinicians must navigate a growing landscape of new terminology, technologies, and clinical environments. A solid foundational understanding of these elements is necessary to provide care that is safe, effective, and ethically sound.
This introductory course provides the clarity you need to navigate the rapidly evolving field of telemental health. With practical insights and research-based guidance, you will discover how to establish a beginner framework for safely utilizing different modalities in your practice.
Enroll in the 1 CE Online Self-Study for $40
Payment Options are listed at checkout
Instructor Raymond Barrett, LMHC, is the founder and CEO of the Telehealth Certification Institute. As a member of the ATA writing committee for Best Practices in Synchronous Telemental Health and a key contributor to the Board Certified Telemental Health (BC-TMH) credential, Ray brings years of industry-standard expertise to this foundational topic. His teaching approach focuses on clear definitions, evidence-based practices, and practical safety anchors.
In this course, you’ll explore broad telehealth definitions, various modalities (including video, audio-only, and text-based care), and the different roles and settings involved in remote care. You will review current research on clinical outcomes, learn how to assess client-centered modality fit, and establish a basic legal, ethical, and safety orientation—including understanding exactly when to escalate care.
Instructor
Raymond Barrett, LMHC
Raymond Barrett is the founder and CEO of the Telehealth Certification Institute, LLC (TCI). A licensed mental health counselor (LMHC), Ray is an innovator and leader in the field of telemental health. He’s an expert telehealth trainer, a respected speaker, and a trusted consultant.
Ray’s inspiration for TCI came from his clients that started asking him to conduct their therapy sessions over the phone. Ray had discovered a knowledge gap in mental health training. He wanted to fill that void with comprehensive and practical training in telemental health - so Ray created that training for himself and fellow clinicians.
Since 2014, TCI has delivered comprehensive telehealth training and consultation to a global network of more than 40,000 healthcare organizations and professionals. TCI now offers over 180 specialized courses, a vast array of telehealth resources, and ongoing free continuing education opportunities for telehealth providers. Among the most sought-after courses offered by TCI is the Telemental Health Training Certificate (THTC Certificate) program.
Ray played a significant role in developing the initial curriculum for the Board Certified Telemental Health credential (BC-TMH) for the Center for Credentialing and Education (CCE). He reviewed every training module. He helped draft content, including questions for exams. He even wrote and developed the initial draft of one of the training modules: Telemental Health Settings and Coordination of Care.
The American Telemedicine Association (ATA) - the most respected organization for telehealth - recently overhauled its guidelines. Ray was on the writing committee that developed Best Practices in Synchronous Videoconferencing-Based Telemental Health in March 2022. You can find Ray here.
Key Takeaways:
- Clarity on terms and modalities: Understand the distinctions between various telemental health services, roles, and settings so you can communicate and practice accurately.
- Evidence-based perspective: Learn what current research says about the clinical equivalence and impact of different modalities, including video and audio-only care.
- Safety and escalation frameworks: Gain a foundational understanding of jurisdictional supremacy, basic documentation anchors, and how to recognize when a client needs a different modality or level of care.
Why This Course?
- Protect your practice: Without a clear understanding of jurisdictional rules and standard-of-care expectations, clinicians risk ethical and legal missteps. This course provides a baseline orientation to keep you compliant.
- Client-centered care: Learn that no single modality fits every situation, and discover how to match the right technological approach to a client's specific needs, privacy, and access level.
- Train with an industry leader: Taught by a clinician who helped shape national telemental health standards, ensuring you receive factual, up-to-date guidance.
Learning Objectives:
- Define telehealth and telemental health clearly.
- Distinguish major modalities, settings, roles, and terms.
- Summarize the research without overclaiming.
- Explain why modality has clinical impact.
- Apply a client-centered, legally and ethically aware beginner framework.
- Recognize when to escalate to a different modality, setting, or level of care.
By the end of this course, you will have a grounded, factual understanding of what telemental health is, what the research supports, and how to begin applying these concepts safely in your work.
Enroll today to build a strong foundation for your telemental health practice.
This course is one module of the TeleMental Health Training Program (THTC) and a non-interactive self-study course. Instruction consists of 1 hour of video instruction and post-test.
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Availability:
From the time of registration, you have six months to access the coursework.
Who Should Attend:
This course is intended for clinicians who provide behavioral health services.
Teaching Methods:
This is a non-interactive, self-study course. Teaching methods for this course include recorded lectures, videos, a post-test, and a course evaluation.
How to attend:
Directions for completing a course can be found by clicking here.
This program was updated on March 30, 2026
Testimonials
Iveyana Kiara Smith
Jessy Hainbach
Bryant Wilson
Ben Keyser
Mei Chan
Meghan Co, LCSW-C, LICSW