Telehealth for Clients with High-Risk Symptoms

Description

Managing high-risk clinical symptoms like suicidality, psychosis, and domestic violence requires more than standard therapeutic skill; it demands a specialized framework for ensuring safety through a digital screen. While many clinicians fear that telehealth amplifies risk, evidence shows that virtual care is just as effective and potentially lifesaving when delivered with appropriate protocols and confidence.

This on-demand training provides a comprehensive, evidence-based roadmap for ethically managing high-acuity cases in a virtual setting. By exploring the latest peer-reviewed research and practical assessment strategies, participants gain the tools to move beyond "better than nothing" care toward clinical excellence and reliability.

Dr. Amy Marschall, Psy.D., a licensed clinical psychologist and certified telemental health expert, brings years of experience in trauma-informed and neurodiversity-affirming care. As a recognized author of tools like the Telemental Health with Kids Toolbox, she provides a grounded perspective on bridging the gap between traditional clinical standards and the unique demands of the virtual environment.

Utilizing a blend of clinical theory and "real-world" case illustrations, Dr. Marschall transforms complex ethical dilemmas into actionable steps. The course emphasizes practical application through de-identified examples that illustrate how to handle high-stakes moments—such as a client disconnecting during a crisis or pushing professional boundaries—from a remote office.

The curriculum covers a wide spectrum of risk factors, including non-suicidal self-injury, active suicidality, substance misuse, and psychotic symptoms. Dr. Marschall dives into specific clinical tools like the Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS), the DAST-10, and the HARK for domestic violence screening. Key highlights include "Transcript Gold" strategies such as the "7-11 breathing technique," the "TIP" and "Dear Man" skills from DBT, and the "CUES" mnemonic for addressing intimate partner violence safely through the screen.

Key Takeaways:

• Evidence-Based Appropriateness: Methods for using validated screens like the NSSI and SBQ-R to determine if a client is clinically appropriate for virtual care based on their unique history.
• Crisis Coordination: Strategies for building remote safety plans, verifying physical locations, and managing "soft handoffs" to local first responders or crisis lines.
• Regulative Grounding: Practical techniques adapted for telehealth, including "Riding the Wave" for cravings, "Take Two" for impulsive behavior, and sensory grounding for dissociative episodes.

Why this course?

• Specialized High-Acuity Training: This course addresses the difficult topics—psychosis, dissociation, and abuse—often ignored in general telehealth courses.
• Trustworthy Expertise: Dr. Marschall’s insights are grounded in everyday practice with high-acuity children, adolescents, and adults, ensuring the strategies are realistic and attainable.
• Ethical and Legal Readiness: Stay updated on the latest 2024 APA standards, HIPAA compliance, and jurisdictional requirements to protect both your clients and your license.

Learning Objectives:

• Assess clients for appropriateness for telehealth based on risk factors, including suicidal ideation, substance dependence, and abuse, using validated screening instruments.
• Transform existing therapeutic interventions and techniques for in-person sessions in a telehealth setting.
• Apply evidence-based therapeutic interventions for psychosis, dissociation, eating disorders, suicidal ideation, and self-harm behavior via telehealth platforms.
• Develop safety plans for clients experiencing abuse, self-harm, and high-risk behaviors utilizing telehealth platforms for service delivery.

High-risk symptoms do not have to be a barrier to providing accessible, high-quality mental health care. This training empowers you to expand your reach, maintain strict professional boundaries, and provide a vital safety net for your most vulnerable clients, no matter where they are located.

Format and Access

This is a non-interactive, self-study course and consists of 4 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 Amy Marschall, Psy.D.

Dr. Marschall earned her doctoral degree in clinical psychology from the University of Hartford in West Hartford, Connecticut. She completed her pre-doctoral internship through the National Psychology Training Consortium and her post-doctoral residency at Family Psychological Center, PA.

Dr. Marschall has been in practice since 2016 and currently owns a private practice, RMH-Therapy, where she provides therapy primarily to children and adolescents and psychological evaluations. Her clinical specializations include trauma-informed and neurodiversity-affirming care, trauma therapy, autism, and ADHD. She also provides ADHD assessments through ADHD Online and therapy services through Spring Health. She teaches continuing education through PESI, Spring Health, and the Telehealth Certification Institute. Dr. Marschall is certified in telemental health and is the author of Telemental Health with Kids Toolbox and Telemental Health with Kids Toolbox: Volume 2.

She is also the author of the following:

• I Don’t Want To Be Bad: A CBT Workbook for Kids, Parents, and the Professionals who Help Them
• Clinical Documentation with Children and Adolescents
• A Year of Resiliency: 465 Journal Prompts to Become Your Strongest Self
• Armani Doesn’t Feel Well: A Book to Help Sick Kids.

She created a website, Resiliency Mental Health, to provide resources for therapists and anyone who wants to learn more about mental health.

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 4 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.

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 4 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 240 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 course is a non-interactive, online self-study.

Participants may request a printed version of their certificate of completion to be delivered by mail. A shipping/handling fee of $6.95 will be charged per request. Shipping internationally may require an additional charge.

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