1.5 Hours / 1.5 CEs

On Demand | Self-Paced Professional Training


This on-demand professional training program on Tele Mental Health Risk Assessment is presented by Kelly Coker, Ph.D., Karen Roller, Ph.D., and Florence Saint-Jean, Ph.D., in partnership with the Center for m²Health at Palo Alto University.

This program is part of a collection of programs designed to lead to a Certificate in Foundations of Digital Mental Health. It can also be taken as a stand-alone learning module. This program provides an overview of how to assess the potential risk of suicide in tele-mental health counseling. Risk assessment at a distance, actions to take following a risk assessment, and legal and licensure implications are explored.

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this training, participants will be able to:

  • 1 Identify initial steps to mitigate risk in tele-mental health including intake, initial assessment, and informed consent
  • 2 Describe the legal and licensure considerations for suicide risk assessment for tele-mental health
  • 3 Describe how to respond to suicide risk concerns as they arise in tele-mental health, including determining the level of risk, frameworks for risk assessment, and possible action steps
  • 4 Demonstrate an integrated understanding of the suicide risk assessment process which incorporates the use of professional consultation
  • Intended Audience

    This training is designed for clinical practitioners at all experience levels who want to build or enhance their skills in assessing and managing suicide risk specifically within tele-mental health settings. The program is suitable for those specializing in clinical psychology, counseling, social work, or related mental health fields, and is relevant for professionals working in private practice, community mental health centers, tele-mental health platforms, and hospitals. The course can be taken independently or as part of the Certificate in Foundations of Digital Mental Health.

  • Experience Level

    This training is applicable for all career stages: entry-level, mid-career, and experienced professionals.

  • Practice Setting

    • Clinical psychologists, counselors, social workers, and related mental health professionals

    • Practitioners providing remote (tele-mental health) services

    • Professionals working in private practice, community mental health centers, tele-mental health platforms, or hospitals

Presented By

Kelly Coker, PhD

Dr. Kelly Coker, Ph.D., is an associate professor in the Counseling Department at Palo Alto University and is a licensed professional counselor (#4490) in North Carolina. Kelly has conducted research and published findings in refereed journals related to substance abuse prevention and intervention, clinical training and supervision, the use of play in counseling and supervision, and the importance of program evaluation and assessment in counseling. She has also served on the editorial board of the Journal of Counseling and Development (JCD), the flagship journal for the American Counseling Association. Kelly has also co-edited a book on using family systems approach in applying the DSM-5 to assessment, diagnosis, and treatment planning, and has presented at numerous regional and national conferences.

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Kelly  Coker, PhD

Presented By

Karen Roller, PhD

Karen Roller works in Counselor Education at Palo Alto University. Karen does research in mental health outreach for the underserved with Spanish-speaking migrant families in California, and lay trauma resolution training in Haiti. She is currently focusing on attachment-based parent-involvement preschool counseling, and Phase 2 of 3 in program development for Global Trauma Research's Haiti Trauma Project.

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Karen  Roller, PhD

Presented By

Florence Saint-Jean, PhD, Founder of Global Trauma Research

Florence a.k.a Dr. Flo founded Global Trauma Research because she trusts that anyone can get through a traumatic event with the right support. She believes her purpose is to be used by God and through leadership, help people attain their goals by means of prayer, education, counseling, and support. Florence obtained a post-doctorate certificate at Harvard Medical School in Global Mental Health: Trauma & Recovery. Florence also earned a Doctor of Philosophy in Executive Counselor Education and Supervision from Duquesne University; Master of Sciences degree in Mental Health Counseling; and Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology and English from the City University of New York, College of Staten Island. Florence is a National Certified Counselor and Approved Clinical Supervisor. Florence oversees GTR’s national and international initiatives. She initiates revenue-driven programs that have a high impact on underrepresented groups. Florence has over a decade worth of experience in social services, counseling, and trauma. Florence's research specialty is treatment efficacy of post-traumatic stress in underrepresented groups, as well as incorporating alternative techniques such as play, music, art, and massage therapy in counseling. Florence's modalities are Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) and Psychodynamic. Florence also uses her knowledge and experience in the classroom, and serves as an Associate Professor at CUNY Brooklyn College, and Visiting Lecturer at New York University (NYU).

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Florence  Saint-Jean, PhD

Training Outline

Key topics covered in this training include:

  • Introduction to Tele-mental health
    - Legal considerations
    - State and Local Procedures

  • Intake process and determining level of risk
    - Risk assessment as part of the intake process
    - Determining appropriateness for telemental-health
    - Suicidal Ideation, Plan, Intent, and Behavior

  • Frameworks for assessing risk
    - SADPERSONS
    - C-SSRS
    - Psych-ache

  • Addressing Risk Concerns
    - Telemental-Health Challenges
    - Safety Planning
    - Contacting Emergency Services

  • Demonstration Role Play

Earning a Certificate

This is a badge-earning program, which means it will help you earn a certificate that can be showcased on digital platforms like LinkedIn.
We are proud to partner with

Center for m²Health at Palo Alto University

Center for m²Health at Palo Alto University

We are proud to partner with the Center for m²Health at Palo Alto University for this training. The Center for m²Health's goal is to develop, evaluate, and implement mobile mental health technologies to help provide affordable, accessible, and evidence-based mental health care to populations worldwide. They provide populations around the world with transdiagnostic screening tools alongside personalized and guided programs for anxiety, traumatic stress, depression, eating disorders, stress, substance abuse, and suicide prevention. In order to implement these effective programs worldwide, they also provide trainings to clinicians and work with leading institutions in other countries.

CE Sponsorship Information

Palo Alto University, Continuing & Professional Studies (CONCEPT) is approved by, recognized by, or maintains sponsorship provider status with the following boards and agencies. We maintain responsibility for all content in our CE/CPD programs. For more information, visit here. 

  1. American Psychological Association (APA): Approved sponsor of continuing education for psychologists.

  2. Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB): Approved continuing education provider (ACE program, Provider #1480), 11/22/2023–11/22/2026.

  3. Canadian Psychological Association (CPA): Approved to sponsor continuing education for psychologists.

  4. National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC): Approved Continuing Education Provider (ACEP No. 7190).



Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies (CONCEPT) is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies (CONCEPT) maintains responsibility for this program and its content. Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies (CONCEPT), is approved by the Canadian Psychological Association to offer continuing education for psychologists. Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies (CONCEPT), SW CPE is recognized by the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers #SW-0356 and the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed mental health counselors. #MHC-0073. Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies (CONCEPT) has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 6811. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. CONCEPT Professional Training, #1480, is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved as ACE providers. State and provincial regulatory boards have the final authority to determine whether an individual course may be accepted for continuing education credit. CONCEPT Professional Training maintains responsibility for this course. ACE provider approval period: 11/22/23-11/22/26. Social workers completing this course receive (clinical or social work ethics) continuing education credits.