Practically Speaking: Behind the Episode - Confident Connection and Telehealth Suicide Prevention
The utilization of telehealth platforms dramatically increased access to psychotherapy in 2020. Nearly five years later, providers can deliver treatment more efficiently to patients across the globe and in locations where there are a dearth of behavioral health providers. Of course, telehealth is not without its challenges, and some providers are anxious to make (or maintain) the transition from in-person treatment. This is perhaps nowhere more true than in the area of suicide prevention.
Listen to the full discussion here: Confident Connection and Telehealth Suicide Prevention
Working with “high risk” patients understandably makes many providers apprehensive. I assume our primary worry is keeping our patients safe, in this case from their own thoughts about self-directed violence. But we also rightfully worry about our ethical obligations and legal ramifications. As I note in this episode of Practical for Your Practice, “would you want to be anything less than a little bit anxious and a little bit concerned when you know you're going to be dealing with high-risk patients with high-risk behaviors and concerned about their safety?” Those worries may be amplified by the physical disconnect of telehealth. “The stakes are just a little higher,” Jenna describes. And yet, patients at high risk for self-directed violence might be the people who need access to care the most.
Years of research offer an optimistic perspective. In this episode, we’re joined by Dr. Kristyn Heins, a licensed professional counselor with expertise in suicide prevention. Over the past few years, she has been delivering evidence-based treatment to high-risk patients via telehealth. Dr. Heins shares common sense suggestions to help providers deliver treatments like CBT for Suicide Prevention virtually. She cites research that concludes that the treatment is just as effective when delivered virtually as it is when delivered in-person. As she describes, providers can safely “adapt and overcome” any challenges associated with telehealth delivery. She also shares her journey in overcoming her own discomfort with this treatment approach, and why this is particularly important when working with a high risk population.
Listen in to Season 6, Episode 4, “Confident Connection and Telehealth Suicide Prevention,” to hear more. In addition to sharing valuable resources and advice, Dr. Heins also shares her “Who’s Got Your Six?” story with us. If you’re inspired to get more training in CBT-SP, check out our upcoming training events: https://deploymentpsych.org/training
The opinions in CDP Staff Perspective blogs are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the Uniformed Services University of the Health Science or the Department of Defense.
Carin Lefkowitz, Psy.D., is a clinical psychologist and Senior Military Behavioral Health Psychologist at the Center for Deployment Psychology (CDP) at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences in Bethesda, Maryland. Dr. Lefkowitz earned her M.A. and Psy.D. in clinical psychology at Widener University, with a concentration in cognitive-behavioral therapy.
The utilization of telehealth platforms dramatically increased access to psychotherapy in 2020. Nearly five years later, providers can deliver treatment more efficiently to patients across the globe and in locations where there are a dearth of behavioral health providers. Of course, telehealth is not without its challenges, and some providers are anxious to make (or maintain) the transition from in-person treatment. This is perhaps nowhere more true than in the area of suicide prevention.
Listen to the full discussion here: Confident Connection and Telehealth Suicide Prevention
Working with “high risk” patients understandably makes many providers apprehensive. I assume our primary worry is keeping our patients safe, in this case from their own thoughts about self-directed violence. But we also rightfully worry about our ethical obligations and legal ramifications. As I note in this episode of Practical for Your Practice, “would you want to be anything less than a little bit anxious and a little bit concerned when you know you're going to be dealing with high-risk patients with high-risk behaviors and concerned about their safety?” Those worries may be amplified by the physical disconnect of telehealth. “The stakes are just a little higher,” Jenna describes. And yet, patients at high risk for self-directed violence might be the people who need access to care the most.
Years of research offer an optimistic perspective. In this episode, we’re joined by Dr. Kristyn Heins, a licensed professional counselor with expertise in suicide prevention. Over the past few years, she has been delivering evidence-based treatment to high-risk patients via telehealth. Dr. Heins shares common sense suggestions to help providers deliver treatments like CBT for Suicide Prevention virtually. She cites research that concludes that the treatment is just as effective when delivered virtually as it is when delivered in-person. As she describes, providers can safely “adapt and overcome” any challenges associated with telehealth delivery. She also shares her journey in overcoming her own discomfort with this treatment approach, and why this is particularly important when working with a high risk population.
Listen in to Season 6, Episode 4, “Confident Connection and Telehealth Suicide Prevention,” to hear more. In addition to sharing valuable resources and advice, Dr. Heins also shares her “Who’s Got Your Six?” story with us. If you’re inspired to get more training in CBT-SP, check out our upcoming training events: https://deploymentpsych.org/training
The opinions in CDP Staff Perspective blogs are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the Uniformed Services University of the Health Science or the Department of Defense.
Carin Lefkowitz, Psy.D., is a clinical psychologist and Senior Military Behavioral Health Psychologist at the Center for Deployment Psychology (CDP) at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences in Bethesda, Maryland. Dr. Lefkowitz earned her M.A. and Psy.D. in clinical psychology at Widener University, with a concentration in cognitive-behavioral therapy.