Panel Discussions
Telehealth/m-Health
Karen Kelley, M.S.
Clinical Psychology Doctoral Student
Mississippi State University
Starkville, Mississippi
Nathan Barclay, M.S.
Clinical Psychology Doctoral Student
Mississippi State University
Starkville, Mississippi
Acacia R. Lopez, M.S.
Clinical Psychology Doctoral Student
Mississippi State University
Mississippi State, Mississippi
Emily S.H. Stafford, Ph.D.
Psychology Training Clinic Director and Assistant Clinical Professor
Mississippi State University
Mississippi State, Mississippi
Ty Stafford, Ph.D.
Psychology Internship Program Director
Mississippi State University
Starkville, Mississippi
Michael R. Nadorff, Ph.D.
Clinical Psychology PhD Program Director and Associate Professor
Mississippi State University
Mississippi State, Mississippi
The need for telehealth training, supervision, and intervention services has markedly increased over the course of the pandemic, and the demand for telehealth services and training is likely to persist. With the rise and continued demand of telehealth, psychology training programs have faced unprecedented challenges in developing experiences and curriculum that equip rising clinicians and faculty with the skills necessary to provide these services. Further, these training challenges are exacerbated within communities that have limited access to telehealth options. Panelists with diverse perspectives on clinical training at the program and internship level will discuss ongoing efforts to facilitate the training of doctoral level trainees and provide evidence-based telehealth services throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Directors of an APA-accredited internship, a program training clinic, and a clinical psychology doctoral program will share accounts of the numerous factors that have impacted the telehealth adaptation process and clinical training of supervisees within a rural community, such as protocol selection, technological capabilities, personnel concerns, and budgetary considerations. Additionally, doctoral level psychology trainees will share student perspectives of the implementation of emergency response procedures and how curriculum changes have impacted the next generation of psychologists. Initial discussions will focus on the development of web-based assessment protocols and the provision of virtual therapy services that are consistent with evidence-based clinical practices and APA guidelines. Next, strategies for addressing training and administrative challenges will be presented. These topics will include assessing the validity of assessment data, confidentiality, data security, and developing trainee competencies in telehealth practices. Finally, we will describe unique barriers to providing evidence-based services within rural populations and underserved communities. This discussion will include ethical considerations related to the provision of telehealth services to high-risk clients within underserved communities and supervision considerations related to telehealth crisis training.