Supporting the person beyond the performance.

Telehealth and my professional identity

My developing counseling identity is grounded in empathy, collaboration, whole-person wellness, accessibility, and respect for each client’s lived experience. Telehealth fits within that identity because it can reduce barriers related to transportation, location, work or school schedules, athletic travel and training, health needs, disability, caregiving responsibilities, and other circumstances that may make consistent in-person counseling more difficult.

I am particularly interested in supporting student-athletes, women and girls, emerging adults, and people navigating identity, health concerns, life transitions, performance pressure, and resilience. For student-athletes, telehealth may support continuity of care around classes, practices, competitions, rehabilitation, and travel. For clients managing health concerns or major transitions, virtual care may offer another way to receive support without adding an additional trip or disruption.

I also recognize that telehealth is not automatically the best option for every client or situation. In future practice, I would consider each client’s preferences, safety, privacy, cultural and linguistic needs, disability-related accessibility, technology access, and ability to engage meaningfully in a virtual format. My goal would be for technology to support the therapeutic relationship—not become the center of it.

Ethical and legal telehealth practice

My current preparation includes a B.A. in Psychology and graduate study in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Walden University, including developing interests in telehealth counseling, private practice, and supervision. My graduate education continues to build my understanding of counseling theory, ethical decision-making, documentation, assessment, treatment planning, boundaries, confidentiality, and culturally responsive care.

As I continue my training, I intend to pursue additional education and professional development in telehealth counseling, privacy and cybersecurity, crisis response, telehealth-informed consent, documentation, accessibility, culturally responsive virtual care, and changing state and federal requirements. The ACA Code of Ethics, particularly Section H: Distance Counseling, Technology, and Social Media, and applicable Virginia Board of Counseling regulations and guidance will help inform my practice.

As a counselor-in-training, I am not presenting myself as an independently licensed counselor. Independent telehealth counseling would occur only after I have completed required supervised preparation and obtained the credentials and legal authorization necessary to practice.

How I see myself using technology

I see technology as a tool that can increase access and strengthen continuity without replacing human connection. In future practice, I can envision using secure video counseling when it is clinically appropriate, along with privacy-protective electronic health records, digital intake and consent forms, appointment scheduling, secure client communication, treatment documentation, and appropriate screening or assessment tools.

Technology may also help extend learning beyond a session through carefully selected psychoeducational materials, coping resources, reflective activities, wellness information, and other digital supports connected to a client’s counseling goals. With student-athletes and young adults, technology may create flexibility around demanding schedules; for clients managing disability or health concerns, it may reduce some access barriers.

At the same time, I would not assume that digital access is equitable access. Internet reliability, technological literacy, privacy at home, language, disability-related needs, and comfort with virtual communication differ from person to person. I would want those differences to be part of the clinical conversation and would continue evaluating whether telehealth remains appropriate throughout care.

My future telehealth practice commitments

• Use telehealth-specific informed consent that explains benefits, risks, limitations, privacy considerations, alternatives, and what happens if technology fails.
• Protect confidentiality and use secure methods for video sessions, electronic records, and transmission of protected client information.
• Verify a client’s identity and physical location when telehealth services are provided, and understand the legal requirements of the jurisdiction where the client is located.
• Maintain an emergency and crisis-response plan, including appropriate emergency resources near the client’s location and an alternate communication method.
• Establish clear professional boundaries for electronic communication, recording, websites, and social media.
• Practice only within the boundaries of my education, training, supervision, competence, credentials, and legal authorization.
• Continually assess whether telehealth remains clinically appropriate and recommend or arrange in-person care or referral when virtual care cannot safely or effectively meet a client’s needs.
• Continue learning as technology, privacy risks, professional standards, and telehealth regulations evolve.