Telehealth Special Interest Group
Melissa Stolsig, Psy.D.[email protected] Lisa Saviñon, M.Ed, LPC, CPC, LCMHC The Telehealth Special Interest Group (SIG) provides a welcoming and inclusive space for psychologists who incorporate virtual care into their practice. Its mission is to promote collaboration, support, and learning through the sharing of knowledge, professional experience, and diverse perspectives. By creating a sense of community, the SIG helps reduce the isolation often associated with remote work and offers opportunities for ongoing professional connection. The group creates an inclusive environment for psychologists who encounter barriers to attending in-person events or working onsite, helping them stay engaged with their professional community. The SIG supports psychologists at every stage of telehealth use, whether they are just beginning or have established virtual practices, by encouraging peer collaboration and the meaningful exchange of ideas and experiences. Topics of discussion range from modality selection and adaptation for virtual use to telehealth platforms, technological concerns, and clinical best practices. Conversations explore creating inclusive virtual therapy spaces, building therapeutic rapport online, maintaining client engagement in remote sessions, and managing the business and financial elements of running a telehealth practice. The telehealth SIG addresses the unique needs of diverse client populations, including rural, underserved, and marginalized communities, while working to expand access to high-quality virtual care. It also emphasizes ethical considerations pertinent to telehealth, such as HIPAA compliance, data security, interstate practice, population-specific needs, and client crisis management. By creating space for psychologists with diverse identities, experiences, and practice settings to connect and grow, this SIG helps advance equitable and effective virtual mental health care. |
