Running head: Online Therapy 1

Online Therapy
Information and Technology ONLINE THERAPY

Talk space is an online therapy with professional licensed therapist. The website has easy access through an APP that is available on APP store, or google play. The Initial contact is a free consultation to assess your needs and how the site works. The consultant guides you through picking a therapist. There is also a video on u-tube to provide more guidance and information about an online therapy experience. There are visual easy to use tabs that you click to chat, make appointments, and unlimited messaging. The web site provides over 100 licensed therapists to choose from. An anonymous patient stated ““Chad Rocks! I have nothing, but good things to say about the experience. I have difficulty making appointments on a weekly basis due to my job, and this avenue allows me to seek help. Thanks for everything you have done”” (Talkspace, 2015 PG.1 P. 5).The therapy takes place in a secure talk space room online. The experience is through text messaging on a smartphone. The patients have access to a therapist “anytime, from any place, whenever you want” (Talkspace, 2015 pg. P.6). The talk space can be utilized as a journal and you can see the dialog between you and your therapist ("Talkspace", 2015).
Breakthrough is another professional online therapy that provides services to patients. The website provides easy navigation through the site with tabs and videos, however I found it was a wealth of information which can be overwhelming. The tab I found most interesting was the assessment tab if an individual is not sure they need therapy they can take two quick assessments. The first assessment is DASS-21 which measures depression, anxiety, and stress, or the Homes-Rahe that assesses the risk of stress related illnesses that may occur from recent stressors. A potential patient takes the basic assessments and they can decide if they would benefit from services, or not. The site is utilized through using a computer, Internet and webcam. A patient can be seen by a therapist, or a psychiatrist on this website depending on the patient’s needs. The patient would need to create an account to access appointments which is a simple process that requires minor information. According to Breakthrough, 2015 a patient can “Test the fit” ("Breakthrough", 2015 pg.1P.2) This takes place by way of the patient asking potential therapist any questions they would like to see if it would be a good match. This great tool because patients can tailor makes their therapy before they commit to an appointment. Next an individual can book an appointment once this takes place you can login in to your account and meet with your therapist on Webcam. If a patient clicks on the find a therapist tab they will be provided with a list, a picture, and a brief summary of the therapist qualifications. They provide licenses therapist ranging from, LCSW, MFT, and Phycologist. The site also provides a wealth of resources for providers and research on online therapy ("Breakthrough", 2015).

According to MyTherapy, 2015 the site provides “Therapists and their Clients with a state of the art and SECURE alternative to Skype - designed specifically for therapy” ("Mytherapy", 2015 pg.1 P.1). The company developed in 2000 by “internationally recognized Online Therapy pioneer” ("Mytherapy", 2015 pg.1 P1). The site has easy straight forward navigation and you can search by an issue you have to be linked to a specialist. To establish an appointment you would need to pick one of their licensed therapists. The therapist is listed on their home page and includes their licensing, brief summary and how many reviews on the site. If an individual’s wishes to gain more information about the therapist they would simply click on the more details tab and then click secure message. Once an individual has chosen a provider they can easy click the book an appointment tab to schedule their appointment. The patient needs to create an account and at the appointment time log into Online therapy office and enter session room. The site offers chat therapy and audio and video. The individual would need computer, internet, keyboard, microphone, and webcam ("Mytherapy", 2015).

Professional associations Online therapy is in a flying blind period and is subject to trail an error. According to National Association of Social Workers ("Naswdc", 2007), “Internet, online therapy is conducted with a range of methods, which have not all been subjected to the rigors of scientific research as to their efficacy” ("Naswdc", 2007 pg.1 P. 4). The electronic therapy that has not yet been completely researched are “ electronic “”chat”” sessions which consist of real time information exchanged via a computer keyboard , structured email exchanges, and group online “” chat”” that are accessible only to approved members’ of the group, or open chats sessions moderated by a therapist” ("Naswdc", 2007)..
State regulatory board
Providers who provide therapy services are required by the Board of Behavioral Science (BBS) to be licensed. The requirements of a providers license depends on the state they live in. the purpose of the license is that if there is a malpractice the provider can be held accountable for their actions. The BBS warns against online therapy for individuals to be mindful of, researching a providers license, the cost of the service, the way services are provide and held confidential, and no what the risk are that are associated with online therapy ("Board Of Behavioral Science", 2015)
Security and ethical Informed consent is a regulated guide line to mandate providers to inform clients of the risk and cost of services. The providers are responsible for telling the client what services they will be provided. They also need to provide the client with other forms of treatment if available ("Psychology", 2015).

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability act (HIPPA) provides regulations for client’s health records. This ensures that agencies are unable to disclose individual’s information without written permission to do so unless there is a threat to harm themselves, or others. HIPPA also gives clients the right to view their records and request changes to their records. Clients also have the right to have written documentation of an agencies privacy policy. The HIPPA act affects agencies by holding them accountable if they do not follow confidentiality requirements. This means can be fined and held to disciplinary measures for not following the law. HIPPA enforces agencies to monitor risk factors and have a plan to how the will handle risk of breaching client information. In online therapies there is a lot of potential risk in breaching client’s information. Agencies can collect a wide range of client information that needs protection. Agencies need to protect the information to make client s secure and to hold their integrity. The way an agency can protect information is by “Spybot Search and Destroy, would be advisable” (Burke.,L, 2015 Pg.8 P.7). A popular way to secure information is by utilizing passwords to login in to a site. The positive side of using passwords it makes it easier to use other systems like biometric and smartcards (Burke.,L, 2015)

Protecting Data
According to "Online Therapy Institute" (YYYY), “Ethical frameworks state that all practing mental health professional use encrypted services when communicating with clients. Encryption is as easy as setting up a free account with a program such as Hushmail ” (Online Therapy Institute, YYYY). Hushmail is a protection that online agencies use to secure clients information. It protects emails and the discussion between a therapist and client ("Online Therapy Institute", YYYY).

Opinion
In my opinion the advantages to online therapy is the connivance. An individual can schedule an appointment any time of the day that best suits them. It cuts down on travel time and gas mileage. The disadvantage I would say is the possibility of information getting hacked and the loss of social skills in society as a whole without human contact. I will say that I used to be totally against online therapy until I had to research it. I now am more open to the idea since I have a better understanding of how it works.

Reference
Burke, L., & Weill, B. (2013). Information technology for the health professions (4th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education. Retrrived from the Unviersty of Phionx Ebook database collection.
Talkspace. (2015). Retrieved from http://get.talkspace.com/official-site/?utr_source=bing&utr_medium=cpc&utr_campaign=SEARCH_BING_BRAND&utr_adgroup=exact_brand&utr_keyword=talkspace&utr_term={term}&utr_id=100002000100150203000370&utr_matchtype=Exact&utr_network={network}&utr_device=c&utr_search=[search]&utr_display=&utr_adid={creative}&utr_mobile=&utr_web=[not-mobile]&utr_placement={placement}&utr_position={position}&utr_devicemodel={devicemodel}&utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=SEARCH_BING_BRAND&utm_term=talkspace
Online therapy institute. (YYYY). Retrieved from http://onlinetherapyinstitute.com/confidentiality/

Breakthrough. (2015). Retrieved from https://www.breakthrough.com/

Mytherapy. (2015). Retrieved from http://www.mytherapy.com/sign-up/

Naswdc. (2007). Retrieved from http://www.naswdc.org/ldf/legal%20issue/2007200704.asp

Board of Behavioral Scieance. (2015). Retrieved from http://http;//www.bbs.ca.gov/consumer psych_online.shtml
Psychology. (2015). Retrieved from http://psychology.about.com/od/iindex/g/def_informedcon.htm