Clinical Skills of Phone Therapy

Description

When a client reaches out in crisis, your ability to respond over the phone can mean the difference between disconnection and lifesaving connection. Phone therapy isn’t just a backup when video fails—it’s a clinical skill set that can open access, deepen trust, and transform care.

In this self-study course, you’ll gain the clinical confidence to deliver ethical, effective, and client-centered therapy entirely over the phone. Through practical demonstrations, research-based insights, and clear strategies, you’ll discover how to make phone sessions a reliable, therapeutic, and even preferred option for your clients.

Raymond Barrett, LMHC, founder and CEO of the Telehealth Certification Institute, brings years of expertise as a leader, trainer, and consultant in telemental health. Ray helped shape national telehealth standards and has trained over 40,000 healthcare professionals worldwide. His unique background in developing the Board Certified Telemental Health credential curriculum ensures you’ll be learning from a true pioneer in the field.

Ray’s teaching approach blends research, demonstration, and hands-on clinical application. He not only reviews what the evidence says about phone therapy but also demonstrates what it looks like in practice—walking you step by step through effective client preparation, technology setup, and therapeutic communication skills.

This course covers: the benefits and limitations of phone sessions, clinical communication skills unique to audio-only therapy, phone etiquette and paralanguage, technology considerations, privacy and compliance requirements, session workflows, and strategies for managing crises over the phone. You’ll also see demonstrations of screening for fit, first sessions, and a real-time crisis call.

Key Takeaways:

• Master phone therapy delivery: Learn how to structure sessions, manage technology, and communicate effectively without visual cues.

• Prepare clients for success: Equip clients with expectations, privacy strategies, and confidence to engage meaningfully in therapy by phone.

• Enhance therapeutic connection: Use paralanguage and verbal skills to foster alliance, empathy, and accurate emotional understanding.

Why this course?

• Protect your clinical credibility: Without the right training, audio-only sessions can feel flat, disconnected, or even risky. This course ensures you uphold the highest standards of care no matter the medium.

• Reach clients who would otherwise be left out: Many clients don’t have access to video technology or feel safer without being seen. Mastering phone therapy equips you to serve them without compromising quality.

• Turn limitations into strengths: Where some see the absence of visuals as a drawback, you’ll learn to transform it into an advantage—using voice, silence, and paralanguage to build trust and deepen therapeutic alliance.

Learning Objectives:

• Describe the different technology and environments used when providing remote sessions

• Demonstrate how to provide an effective phone therapy session from start to finish.

• Demonstrate how to prepare the client for phone therapy and address technological challenges and telehealth session etiquette.

Phone therapy isn’t a compromise—it’s a lifeline. For many clients, it’s the only way they’ll consistently engage in care. By sharpening your phone-based clinical skills, you not only expand access but also safeguard your professional credibility and strengthen therapeutic outcomes.

Enroll in Clinical Skills of Phone Therapy and ensure you’re ready to meet your clients with confidence, connection, and competence—wherever they are.

Format and Access

This course is part of the THTC Program and is a non-interactive self-study course. Instruction consists of 2.5 hours of video instruction and a post-test.

Course Details

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: 

Course access and completion instructions.

Instructor and Disclosures

Instructor

About Raymond Barrett, CEO, LMHC

Raymond 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.

In 2019, Ray participated in a task force for developing a clinical rating process for mobile apps designed to help treat depression.  The recommendations were presented to ATA.

The Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) is an independent, nonprofit organization that provides accreditation services worldwide at the request of health and human service providers. As part of the International Standards Advisory Committee (ISAC), Ray helped establish CARF’s standards for virtual services.

Ray also is a frequent speaker and consultant for professional organizations. He has presented for over 20 organizations since 2015.

Disclosure Statement: 

The instructor(s) for this course receive compensation for their services. There are no reported conflicts of interest to disclose.

CE Hours

Credit Hours:

This course consists of 2.5 continuing education hours of credit.

Counselors:

Telehealth Certification Institute, LLC has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No, 6693.  Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified.  Telehealth Certification Institute, LLC is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs. 

Telehealth Certification Institute, LLC is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for Licensed Mental Health Counselors. #MHC-0048.

Marriage and Family Therapists: 

Many MFT licensing boards accept our courses or one of the approvals which we have from professional associations.  You can check with your board to determine if your licensing board would accept this course.

Telehealth Certification Institute, LLC is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed marriage and family therapists #MFT-0135, effective May 8, 2025.

Social Workers:

Telehealth Certification Institute LLC, #1609, is approved as an ACE provider to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. ACE provider approval period: 05/02/2024 – 05/02/2027. Social workers completing this course receive 2.5 clinical continuing education credits

Telehealth Certification Institute, LLC is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for Licensed Social Workers #SW-0435.

Addiction Professionals:

This course has been approved by Telehealth Certification Institute LLC, as a NAADAC Approved Education Provider, for educational credits. NAADAC Provider #193104, Telehealth Certification Institute LLC is responsible for all aspects of the programming.

Psychologists:

Telehealth Certification Institute LLC is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. Telehealth Certification Institute LLC maintains responsibility for this program and its content.

Telehealth Certification Institute, LLC is recognized by the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Psychology as an approved provider of continuing education for Licensed Psychologists #PSY-0128.

Art Therapists: 

Telehealth Certification Institute, LLC is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for Licensed Creative Arts Therapists #CAT-0093.

Other Professionals:

This course qualifies for 150 minutes of instructional content as required by many national, state and local licensing boards and professional organizations.  Retain your certificate of completion and contact your board or organization for specific filing requirements.

This is a non-interactive, self-study course.

Accommodations and Policies

Close Captioning is available for live webinars and recorded video presentations.

You can click on the following links to view our policies:

• Accommodations for Individuals with Disabilities.
• Cancellation Policy
• Grievance Policy
• Support Options
• Disclosure Statement