Understanding and Applying the American Psychological Association Guidelines for the Practice of Telepsychology

Time: 9:00am-4:00pm

Location: Virtual

Instructor: Sara Smucker Barnwell, Ph.D.

CE credits: 6 CE's (pending)

Course Description:

The field of telepsychology has evolved significantly over the past decade, requiring updated ethical and practice guidelines to ensure high standards of care and risk management. This presentation will provide an in-depth exploration of the APA Guidelines for the Practice of Telepsychology, tracing their development from the original 2013 publication to the recently revised 2024 version. Participants will gain insight into the key revisions, the ethical and legal considerations they address, and the implications for contemporary telepsychology practice. Most importantly, the session will offer practical guidance on how psychologists can interpret and apply these guidelines to ensure ethical, competent, and risk managed telepsychology services.

Through case examples and discussion, this 6-hour session will equip attendees with the knowledge and skills needed to navigate telepsychology in an increasingly digital landscape while maintaining professional integrity and minimizing risks.

 Objectives:

At the end of this training participants will be able to:

1. Describe the three (3) key differences between the 2013 and 2024 guidelines versions.
2. Identify three (3) ethical, legal, and risk management considerations addressed in the updated guidelines and their relevance to contemporary telepsychology practice.
3. Apply the 2024 APA Telepsychology Guidelines to real-world clinical scenarios to enhance ethical decision-making and professional competency.
4. Develop strategies to integrate the updated guidelines into their telepsychology practice while mitigating risks related to licensure, confidentiality, informed consent, and technological considerations.

References:

American Psychological Association. (2024). Guidelines for the Practice of Telepsychology. Washington, DC: Author.

Campbell, F. A. Millán, & J. N. Martin (Eds.), A telepsychology casebook: Using technology ethically and effectively in your professional practice (pp. 141–164). Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.

Perle, J. G., Smucker-Barnwell, S., Morland, L. A., Villalobos, B. T., Moore, H. D., Frye, W. S., Wright, C. V., Loew, M. M., & Wright, S. D. (2025). A compendium for the 2024 APA Guidelines for the Practice of Telepsychology: Guideline applications and resources. The American psychologist, 10.1037/amp0001579.