Publication Date

2011

Document Type

Masters Thesis

Department

School for Social Work

Keywords

Social service-Methodology, Telecommunication in medicine, Psychotherapy-Methodology, Social workers-Attitudes, Videoconferencing, Videoconference, Telemental health, Videoconference therapy, E-therapy, Online therapy, Online counseling

Abstract

This qualitative study was undertaken to explore how social workers are integrating videoconference telemental health into practice, and what their experiences have been of using videoconference telemental health to provide services. Twelve social workers with experience using videoconference telemental health participated in a semi-structured interview over Skype. The interview included questions about the clinicians' practices; how they started using videoconference telemental health to provide services; their attitudes' towards the use of the technology; and ethical dilemmas they have encountered while using videoconference telemental health. Ten of the clinicians interviewed were in private practice, and two worked in larger institutional settings. The major findings were the agreement by all clinicians in the study that videoconference telemental health has the ability to expand access to services. A majority of clinicians also reported that it provided a unique treatment experience that was beneficial to their clients; that the technology is less than perfect and can be disruptive; and that there is a lack of clear ethical and legal guidelines regarding the use of this technology in practice.

Language

English

Comments

iv, 71 p. Thesis (M.S.W.)-Smith College School for Social Work, Northampton, Mass., 2011. Includes bibliographical references (p. 61-64)

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