I've been researching options to do "Skype Counseling" for some time now and I finally set up what I believe is the best option. Although it's called Skype Counseling, I won't be using Skype since it's not confidential. There are many considerations when it comes to starting telehealth. I think this is the wave of the future so I wanted to go ahead and offer this option to people who may not be able to come in person. I found a great website that really covered every base. Things that i needed to consider were:
1. Confidentiality
2. HIPAA Compliance
3. Software that's not too difficult to use
4. Cost
5. Area of practice

With all that in mind I've decided on a great option that is free to use by clients. I will now offer this option to any existing or future clients. Since I am working on earning my license to practice counseling in Oregon, I am only able to offer this service to clients in Oregon or Washington or out of the country under certain circumstances. State boards do not allow practicing across state lines.

I hope that this additional service will help people who would have found getting counseling to be prohibitive otherwise. I am especially thinking about people who live in areas in which there aren't counselors, new parents who have difficulty traveling, and people who may have anxiety going to counseling in person. This may also be beneficial to people who travel. Let me know if you'd like to give it a try. This can be used as the only meeting method or as a part of a combination of services.

I am in the process of setting up software to offer telecounseling or remote counseling. There are ethical issues to be considered and I take confidentiality seriously so I am being thorough before launching this new option to my services offered. With this new option we will be able to meet by video chat in a private conversation and you won't have to leave your home. I am looking forward to this option because I know that not everyone wants to or is able to travel to central Portland for therapy. Traffic is getting worse by the day and there may be other factors that keep people from seeking counseling in an office. This option will allow convenience of location and time. I'll update the blog when everything is ready to launch!