Learning Preference Options
Video Version
Text Version

Learning Preference Options

Learning Preference Options

You have many options to learn the material, but you do not need to go through all of the different formats in order to be successful in this course.

Your options include:

Watching the instructional video on the "Video Version" tab.
Reading the instructional content on the "Text Version" tab.

Growing Trend - Distance Mental Health

Estimated Total Viewing Time
5:38 Minutes

Learn more about the growing trend of distance mental health counseling.

Growing Trend - Distance Mental Health

Estimated Total Reading Time
5 Minutes

Distance mental health is the provision of mental health services by skilled and knowledgeable professionals (e.g. counselors, therapists, psychiatrists) to participants in different locations, using telecommunication technologies.

Telecommunications is the preparation, transmission, communication, or related processing of information by electronic means. Telecommunication technologies include but are not limited to telephone, mobile devices, interactive videoconferencing, email, chat, text, and Internet (e.g. self help websites, blogs, social media). Information may be transmitted in writing, or include images, sound or other data. These communications may be synchronous with multiple parties communicating in real time (e.g. interactive videoconferencing, telephone) or time-delayed, asynchronous (e.g. email, online bulletin boards, storing and forwarding information). Technologies may augment traditional in-person services (e.g. psychoeducational materials online after an in-person session) or be used as stand-alone services (e.g. screening, assessment, counseling provided over videoconferencing). Different technologies may be used in varied combinations and for different reasons when providing Distance mental health services. For example, videoconferencing and telephone may be utilized for direct services while email and text are used for non-direct services (e.g. scheduling).

Distance mental health counseling is also known is e-therapy, e-counseling, online therapy, online counseling, telecounseling, telementalhealth counseling, teletherapy, cyber-counseling, and web-counseling. Distance mental health counseling does not replace traditional in-person counseling however it is rapidly becoming an important resource to a growing number of consumers.

The next page will discuss mental health counseling challenges and benefits.

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