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TeleMental Health Clinical Considerations: Working with Couples & Families

Enroll in the Online Self-Study course and complete it at your own pace.
1 CE hour available for behavioral health clinicians upon completion.

TeleMental Health Clinical Considerations Working with Couples & Families

Working with couples and families in therapy is always complex—but when screens separate clients from clinicians, new challenges demand new strategies. As the demand for online services grows, behavioral health professionals must adapt systemic models and develop the clinical flexibility needed to deliver high-quality care through TeleMental Health.

This course provides practical solutions to the pressing challenges clinicians face when supporting families and couples online—helping you strengthen therapeutic engagement, protect privacy, and stay grounded in ethical practice even when the unexpected happens on screen.

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Shelly Smith, MA, LMFT, brings years of experience delivering therapy online and teaching others to do the same. As a licensed marriage and family therapist in four states, a national and state-level presenter for AAMFT, and a co-founder of two organizations focused on wellness and TeleMental Health training, Shelly understands the realities of clinical work with couples and families in virtual settings. Her leadership in this field ensures participants receive expert, applied guidance.

Shelly’s approach combines clinical depth with an emphasis on creativity, innovation, and risk management. Drawing from systemic theory and best practices in TeleMental Health, she offers grounded, flexible strategies that clinicians can immediately implement in their work.

This course explores the unique benefits and challenges of online couple and family therapy, adaptations to evidence-based systemic models, and strategies for setting and maintaining boundaries. You’ll examine ethical and legal considerations, including licensure and technology compliance, and learn how to recognize and address power dynamics and cultural norms that emerge in virtual sessions.

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Instructor

Shelly Smith, MA, LMFT is co-founder of United Counseling & Wellness and Connect TMH. She works with therapists to provide education and consultation about online therapy. She is licensed in four states and provides therapy to individuals, couples, and families. She regularly presents on the topic of Telemental Health at AAMFT national and state conferences. Additionally, she served on the board of the AAMFT Telehealth and Technology Interest Network, published in Family Therapy Magazine, and discussed online therapy in Episode 5 of the AAMFT Podcast.

Key Takeaways:

  • Assess fit for online systemic work: Learn how to determine whether TeleMental Health is appropriate for couples and families.

  • Understand legal and ethical standards: Explore regulations, risk management, and documentation strategies specific to online CFT.

  • Adapt clinical models for the screen: Discover how to creatively modify systemic therapy tools while preserving their effectiveness.

Why this course?

  • Relevant to real-life practice: This course addresses current, urgent needs of clinicians working online with multiple clients in session.

  • Led by a trusted expert: Shelly Smith’s extensive experience in both direct care and professional education makes her uniquely qualified to guide learners.

  • Delivered by a leader in CE: Telehealth Certification Institute provides high-quality, accessible training to equip clinicians with actionable, up-to-date skills.

Learning Objectives:

  • Identify appropriate uses of TMH for couple and family therapy (CFT) and evaluate the differences in providing CFT through TMH.

  • List several ethical and legal considerations for online CFT.

  • Explain appropriate systemic adaptations for online CFT and describe how providers can use creativity and innovation in working with couples and families online.

Whether you're new to TeleMental Health or looking to improve your skills, this course will help you provide ethically sound, engaging, and effective therapy to couples and families—no matter the distance. Add it to your toolbox today and explore what’s possible with systemic work online.

Add this course to your cart to begin learning instantly.

This is a non-interactive, self-study course. Instruction consists of 1 hour of video instruction and a post-test.

Enroll in the 1 CE Online Self-Study for $20

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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 recorded on May 19, 2020.

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