During this pandemic when people are being asked to stay home, many clinicians are moving their practices to an online format. Providing telemental health is not new; however, prior to this pandemic, many therapists and clients still preferred in-person therapy. Since that is rarely an option right now, behavioral health providers must find ways to transition to using technology to provide clinical services.
As we navigate through these unprecedented times, as helping professionals, we prepare ourselves to help those patients who come our way. What we are less prepared for, are those times that our patients are one of us. The author answers the question, “How does caring for one of our own affect our work during this time of crisis?”
CDP Subject Matter Experts have been receiving many questions about delivering evidence-based psychotherapy (EBP) via telemental health. As providers struggle to continue to deliver treatment without face-to-face contact, questions arise about adaptations for videoconferencing and even telephone-only delivery of services. Read below for ideas on how to quickly adapt services in light of the coronavirus outbreak.
There is a growing public awareness of the importance of sleep to overall health and mental health. Reporting on health related issues continues to emphasis the importance of good sleep to so many aspects of our overall health. Research has demonstrated links to learning and memory, metabolism and weight, mood, and cardiovascular health.
Have you heard about Written Exposure Therapy (WET) yet? It’s a newer evidence-based psychotherapy (EBP) for PTSD, recently added as a first line, trauma-focused treatment in the latest VA/DoD Clinical Practice Guidelines. Last year I took the WET training taught by Dr. Brian Marx, one of the treatment originators. I must admit, I was skeptical about how it worked and whether it would be effective. Since the training, I have used it with 2 patients and now feel comfortable adding it to my PTSD toolbox.