Introduction to Telemental Health

Description

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.

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.

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.

Format and Access

This course is Module 1 of the THTC Program and is a non-interactive self-study course. Instruction consists of 1 hour 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, 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 1 continuing education hour 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 1 clinical continuing education credit.

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 60 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