1 Hour / 1 CE

On Demand | Self-Paced Professional Training

This on-demand professional training program on Tips for Tele-Mental Health Counseling is presented by Kelly Coker, Ph.D., in partnership with the Center for m²Health at Palo Alto University.

This program discusses preparing for conducting tele-therapy sessions and practical considerations for the tele-therapy environment. In addition, it identifies ways to navigate safety and confidentiality concerns.

Learning Objectives

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

  • 1 Describe three steps to prepare for conducting teletherapy sessions
  • 2 Describe practical considerations for setting up the teletherapy space and conducting the session
  • 3 Describe ways to navigate safety and confidentiality concerns

  • Intended Audience

    This training is designed for mental health and allied professionals who are providing or planning to provide therapy services via telehealth. It is relevant for those specializing in clinical or counseling psychology, social work, or related mental health fields, and who serve diverse client populations.

    Examples of Relevant Professionals:

    • Mental Health Professionals
    • Psychologists (clinical, counseling, and school)
    • Social workers (clinical and non-clinical)
    • Counselors (licensed professional counselors, school counselors, etc.)
    • Allied mental health professionals (e.g., marriage and family therapists, psychiatric nurses)

  • Experience Level

    This training is appropriate for mental health professionals at various stages of experience with teletherapy.

    • Beginner: Participants new to teletherapy who are seeking foundational knowledge on preparing for and conducting virtual sessions, including basic safety and confidentiality practices.

    • Intermediate: Participants with some experience in teletherapy who wish to enhance their skills in optimizing the teletherapy environment and addressing more nuanced safety and confidentiality considerations.

  • Practice Setting

    Practitioners deliver services in secure, private, technology-enabled clinical environments using compliant telehealth platforms, with workflows designed to safeguard confidentiality and manage safety and crisis protocols. Sessions are conducted from dedicated, distraction-free spaces optimized for sound, lighting, and connectivity; this training supports both newer and more experienced teletherapists in refining these setups and procedures.

    Examples of Practice Settings:

    • Private practice telehealth clinics
    • Group practices offering virtual therapy
    • Community mental health agencies delivering teletherapy
    • Integrated primary care/behavioral health via telehealth
    • Hospital-based or specialty programs (e.g., IOP/PHP) via teletherapy
    • University/college counseling centers providing tele-counseling
    • K–12 school-based telehealth counseling services
    • Employee Assistance Programs (EAP) via teletherapy
    • Veterans/military tele-mental health services
    • Corrections-focused tele-mental health services
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.

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.
View Certificates

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).


Sponsorship Approval Statements

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), is approved by the Canadian Psychological Association to offer continuing education for psychologists. Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies (CONCEPT) has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 7190. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. Palo Alto University, #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. Palo Alto University 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. Continuing and Professional Studies, Palo Alto University, is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Psychology as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed psychologists #PSY-0103. Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies (CONCEPT) is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs. Palo Alto University, Continuing & Professional Studies (CONCEPT), 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. Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies, is recognized by 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.