January 20, 2010

Considerations for the Provision of E-Therapy from the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services

This report from the United States Department of Health and Human Services consists of five sections; each of which addresses an issue that is essential to the development and implementation of E-therapy services. The first section outlines the technological mechanisms for delivering E-therapy, the appropriate uses for these therapies, the populations for which the therapy may be used, and the therapies effectiveness based on previous research. Also in this section are the potential uses, benefits and challenges associated with E-therapy. The second section addresses how E-therapy progress would be evaluated and how much this evaluation progress would cost. The third section discusses cultural and linguistic capability. The fourth section focuses on legal and regulatory issues and mandated reporting requirements, practitioner and client confidentiality, and informed consent. The final section addresses the administrative considerations for the implementation of E-therapy.