Considerations for the Provision of E-Therapy

About the Course:

This article describes the efforts by The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT) in building substance abuse treatment capacity using E-therapy for hard-to-reach and traditionally underserved populations. SAMHSA/CSAT assembled expert researchers and service providers from across the United States and Canada to discuss the most commonly used forms of electronically delivered services and their potential efficacy with a variety of substance abuse and mental health issues. Subsequent meetings of the expert panel resulted in a recommendation for the development of a guidance document to include: purposes of E-therapy, specialty populations, evaluation, appropriate settings for service delivery, licensure, and administrative concerns.
Taken together, the invaluable contributions of these experts have resulted in the information provided within this document, and will likely shape efforts to provide quality substance abuse treatment services for years to come.

Journal/Publisher:

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration Center for Substance Abuse Treatment

Publication Date:

HHS Publication No. (SMA) 09-4450 Printed 2009

Authors

Erika Taylor, Ph.D.; Erika Symonette, M.S.; Edward Singleton, Ph.D.

About the Authors:

The document was written by Erika Taylor, Ph.D., Erika Symonette, M.S., and Edward Singleton, Ph.D., The MayaTech Corporation, under contract number 270–2003–00006–0002, with SAMHSA, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). CAPT Stella P. Jones, M.S.W., LICSW, BCD, served as the Government Project Officer.

Recommended For:

This course is recommended for health care professionals, especially psychologists, counselors, and social workers who seek knowledge about using E-Therapy in substance abuse treatment. It is appropriate for all levels of participants’ knowledge.

Course Objectives:

1. Identify technical and practical issues with delivering E-therapy for substance abuse.

2. Explore the costs and benefits of different measurement approaches in evaluating the condition and progress of E-therapy clients.

3. Examine the impact of technology on culture and race/ethnicity, including barriers to cultural competence.

4. Describe the legal, regulatory, and administrative issues in using E-therapy with a substance abuse population.