A lot of therapists wonder how to respond to an emergency situation if they are physically many miles away. In this video, Effective Therapist Norm Quantz discusses the need for the therapist to get specific information in the intake session or on the intake form. Local contact numbers as well as emergency contact information must be provided so that in the event that the therapist needs to respond to a client in crisis, he or she has the required information to do so.
Norm shares an example of how an online counseling client situation would be dealt with in the video counseling format.
I am interested in expanding my services to include online/video sessions, and have been told by several insurance providers that they will not pay for this form of counseling. They, in fact, were surprised by the question. What do you know about insurance companines getting on board with onlline/video counseling? Frankly, I was surprised at their surprise at the question!
The issue of insurance coverage for online therapy is one of the hurdles that web-based therapists have to jump. Until the insurance industry catches up with the move to online professional services, individuals will need to personally pursue a policy. Along with my insurance broker, I have been able to stir some excitement with an insurance company to cover my global practice. But many companies are still reluctant. This is an emerging business opportunity/service for insurance companies and I believe it needs to be presented to them in this way. Because of regulations that restrict certain advertisements by insurance companiesand broker licensing restrictions, they are not allowed to promote or claim on the web that they will or will not be able to serve your global insurance needs, at least not yet.
I do have permission to invite your personal inquiry and personally direct you to information that is available. I am not offering this because I have financial gain from a referral, I don’t. But out of my interest in helping colleagues like you get insurance for an online practice, I am willing to tell you what I know.
I will be addressing more about this in the near future on my blog and in http://www.imagefacetoface.com , the business and education HUB for therapists and health professionals.
I would invite anyone interested in online practice insurance to share what your country offers. Then, if you are from Canada, I may be able to help connect some dots for you if you contact me through the contact button on this blog.
