Issue link: http://ncumarketing.uberflip.com/i/1464553
S P R I N G 2 0 22 – I S S U E 9 7 TELEHEALTH POLICY Prior to COVID, our MFT programs did not allow for teletherapy or telesupervision to count towards graduation hour requirements, consistent with our accrediting body's standards. Teletherapy was defined as the process of delivering synchronous therapeutic services using a secure video platform according to relevant state, Federal, and provincial regulatory requirements or guidelines. Similarly, telesupervision was defined as the process of delivering synchronous supervision services using a secure video platform. The NCU MFT programs recognize the growing need and use of teletherapy and telesupervision by MFTs and have integrated basic information regarding the ethics and use of teletherapy into the curriculum. We also recognize that licensure boards, legislative bodies, and the field are making efforts to determine how and when this modality can be used in a manner that protects the client and the therapist. The 2015 AAMFT Code of Ethics added language addressing the ethics and expectation of using this modality (Standard VI). * In addition, state regulatory boards require therapists to be licensed in the state in which the therapist resides and the state in which the client resides when teletherapy crosses state lines. Due to the impacts of COVID, our accrediting body issued an accommodation that allowed for these modalities to be counted. This accommodation expired on December 31, 2021. As of January 1, 2022, the use of teletherapy and telesupervision will be allowed and made part of our policies. POLICY: NCU requires all faculty, students, and local supervisors to be compliant with current state regulatory requirements and practices regarding teletherapy. NCU does not permit students to provide therapy across state lines and supervisors must be licensed in the states where services are provided. The local clinical supervisor must be licensed and qualified to provide supervision in the state in which the therapy is being provided and received. PROCEDURE: In compliance with the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education (COAMFTE) version 12.5 Accreditation Standards, the program permits students to engage in teletherapy to meet graduation requirements. Students must: 1. Be familiar with and comply with all state requirements regarding teletherapy; 2. Complete NCU required documentation to inform the program they will be participating in teletherapy; 3. Provide therapy to clients physically in the same state they are providing therapy; AND 4. Be supervised by a local supervisor who is fully licensed and physically located in that state, meets the state and COAMFTE qualifications for supervision, and has been vetted and approved by the NCU MFT clinical team. For example, a student who is physically located and practices in Wyoming can only do teletherapy with clients who are in Wyoming AND the student is supervised by someone who is licensed and qualified to supervise them in Wyoming. Additionally, that person needs to have been approved and vetted by the clinical administrative team. Students may not be physically located in one state (Wyoming) and engage in therapy services with clients physically located in another state (Montana), even if they are working with a local supervisor who is licensed in that other state (Montana).