COVID-19 Resources for Mental Health Professionals

These are some COVID-19 resources for therapists, as suggested by members of our community. As always, use your own judgment in weighing information, recommendations, etc.*

Telehealth: Privacy, Best Practices, & Platforms/Software

• Privacy Requirements Related to Telehealth:
  • Europe:
    • General Data Protection Regulation (EU GDPR) Information
  • Canada:
    • Summary of Privacy Laws in Canada
    • PIPEDA: The Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act,
    • PHIPA: Personal Health Information Protection Act (PHIPA), Declaration of PHIPA substantially equivalent to PIPEDA
    • How to Protect Canadian Health Data: From HIPAA to PHIPA to BAA
    • What You Need to Know About HIPAA and Canada Health Information Privacy
  • United States:
    • HIPAA: Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) Information
    • Notification of Enforcement Discretion for Telehealth Remote Communications During the COVID-19 Nationwide Public Health Emergency (U.S. Department of Health & Human Services)
    • What the COVID-19 telehealth waiver means for psychology practitioners

• Best Practices for Telehealth:
  • Providing Psychological Services via Electronic Media (Canadian Psychological Association) (includes list of references of other relevant guidelines and documents)
  • Guidelines for Best Practices in the Provision of Telepsychology (Ontario Psychological Association) (PDF)
  • Guidelines for the Uses of Technology in Counselling and Psychotherapy (CCPA-ACCP) (PDF) (includes summary of existing guidelines for multiple locations around the world)
  • E-Mental Health in Canada: Transforming the Mental Health System Using Technology – A Briefing Document (Mental Health Commission of Canada) (PDF) (includes an appendix of international approaches guiding e-mental health)
  • The Canadian Medical Protective Association: Practicing Telehealth (website)
  • Draft guidelines: Psychology services delivered via the internet and other electronic media – Psychologists Board of New Zealand (2011)
  • Guidelines for the practice of telepsychology – Joint Task Force for the Development of Telepsychology Guidelines for Psychologists (2013) American Psychological Association (APA)
  • Technology Standards of Practice (BC College of Social Workers) (PDF)

• Telehealth Platforms
  • NousTalk – telehealth platform that conforms to HIPAA (USA), PIPEDA (Canada), and PHIPA (Canada) requirements, offers screen sharing options, and recording of sessions by the therapist. Also includes an online booking system for online and in-office visits, integrated billing and receipting system, intake forms and online consent forms, and a variety of other options and features.
  • Zoom.us – telehealth platform with HIPAA (USA) compliant “Telehealth” subscription option which offers screen sharing, recording of the session, and options for multi-user training/workshop delivery as well as a multitude of other options such as telephone call-in. With regards to some recent negative media coverage about Zoom security, some concerns are outlined here. Zoom has posted a blog response with some information and another article about the issues is available here. You may also view Nat Kuhn’s post here. Some additional information about Zoom settings to protect your privacy and avoid trolls is also available here. Info about Zoom 5.0 available here.
  • whereby.com, confrere.com, and jitsi.org are three other video conferencing platforms one of our ListServ members has recommended as being serious about security.

• Video Recording and Editing Software
  • Handbrake – a free, open source program that allows you to reduce the size of your video files for easier storage and transportability for supervision
  • OBS – screen/video recording and editing software
  • NousTalk and Zoom allow recording of online sessions, as mentioned above.

• Other telehealth information and resources:
  • “Telemental Health Informed Consent,” a sample policy from NASW (National Association of Social Workers, USA).
  • “Telehealth Tips: Managing Suicidal Clients During the COVID-19 Pandemic,” from the Suicide Prevention Center of New York.
  • “COVID-19: Can you practice teletherapy across state lines?,” (USA) a state-by-state guide to current licensure requirements for teletherapy, from The Shrink Space. It also includes a link to each state’s COVID-19 resource page.
  • “Online Therapy: thinking critically about our clinical work,” a “Free/Pay what you can” presentation on Thursday 2 April by Aaron Balick, PhD, offered by Stillpoint Spaces International.
  • Working with Veteran Couples Via Telehealth (EFT approach) (PDF)
  • Telehealth tips with suicidal clients
  • Creating Closeness at a Distance/Telemedicine and Experiential Dynamic Therapy (DEFT Institute webinar)

Supportive services and resources for therapists

• EmotiHealth Webinars: “Supporting Healthcare Professionals in This Time of Crisis – Facing into Fear,” Online webinars for health professionals every Friday during the current COVID-19 pandemic; attendance by donation.
• “Preparing for Crisis: A Health Professionals Guide to Emotional Health – Part 1” by Dr. Jess Bolton & Dr. Ange Cooper, EmotiHealth
• Therapist Fatigue: “Feldenkrais Awareness Through Movement Lessons” by Bridget Quebodeaux (soundcloud files here; transcript here)
• ConnectionStudio – offers a variety of videos, webinars, and support services related to a range of emotional health topics
• Therapist Affect Phobia Community Hour – meets on Mondays at 12pm Eastern Time for support and connection

Research, Articles, & Information

• Anything can be COVID-19: As pandemic grinds on, doctors find early definitions of disease were too narrow
• Nathan Rice’s compilation of resources in .pdf format: Week 1 // Week 3
• What Immunity to COVID-19 Really Means
• Monkeys Develop Protective Antibodies to SARS-CoV-2

Webinars and video resources

• CSAE Webinar:Facts can make all the difference in reducing anxiety and fostering psychological health during times of stress. With gratitude, CSAE is making webinar with Dr. David N. Fisman available at no cost to any interested Canadians. Dr. Fisman, is a Professor of Epidemiology with the University of Toronto and he will review: the scientific and clinical understanding of the virus, the potential impact and risks of a global outbreak, and meaningful and mindful ways to prepare for the future. Please note, there is a slight delay while the webinar loads.
• “Neurosequential Network: COVID-19 Stress & Trauma Series” by Dr. Bruce D. Perry
• The global Coronavirus crisis: Steering ourselves and our clients through new & developing traumas by Bessel van der Kolk (webinar)
• Therapist Uncensored – podcasts

Resources for working with children

• The story of the oyster and the butterfly: The Corona Virus and me by Ana M Gomez (for use with children to explore emotions and/or integrate EMDR therapy into the work)

Mail forwarding

• “Official USPS Change-of-Address,” (USA). You can have your mail temporarily forwarded to your home or other address; the temporary option goes up to six months and then can be renewed for another six months.  Please note: under “Who is Moving? –  Individual, Family or Business,” you should select “Business” if your office is currently in a commercial space.

 Financial supports

• Canada’s COVID-19 Economic Response Plan: Support for Canadians and Businesses – financial and economic response from the Federal Government of Canada, with support for individuals, families, and businesses; Related to this, “Carleton prof creates plain-language guide for getting government aid” by Blair Crawford is an article available to support Canadians in accessing government aid.
• United States Disaster Relief Assistance – “In the CARES Act borrowers can receive up to $10k emergency cash within three days, which will be forgiven, if it is spent on paid leave, maintaining payroll and rent that can’t be met due to revenue loss. This is open to sole proprietors, independent contractors, small businesses and non-profits with less than 500 employees.  You may keep the $10k emergency cash grant even if you don’t qualify for a bigger loan.  Apply at www.SBA.gov/disaster.  There are no loan fees, guarantee fees or prepayment fees.” – courtesy of one of our ListServe members

Call for manuscripts

• “Telepsychotherapy in the Age of Covid-19,” from the APA’s Journal of Psychotherapy Integration. Deadline: Friday, 3 April 2020.

 

*IEDTA provides this information as a courtesy, but does not guarantee, endorse, or make any claims about the specific information provided, its accuracy, or its sources. By accessing this information, you release IEDTA from any and all liability related to this information, its use, or otherwise.

This page made possible by collaboration with Nathan Rice, Nat Kuhn, our IEDTA ListServ Members, IEDTA Community, Tami Chelew, and the IEDTA Membership & Community Committee. Thank you to all who have contributed!