Clinical Topics & Methods Category

Online Counseling: A Handbook for Mental Health Professionals

12 CE Hours
169 members have taken this course

This course has been retired. We regularly update our course catalog to ensure relevance.

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About the Course

This course is a comprehensive presentation of current research, clinical information, and technology in the provision of online counseling along with pertinent business considerations, current laws, regulations and ethical concerns.

This course is based on the book, Online Counseling: A Handbook for Mental Health Professionals created by George Stricker, Ph.D. et al in 2011.

Publication Details

Publication Date: 2011, Second Edition

Course Material Authors

Course Material Authors authored the material only, and were not involved in creating this CE course. They are identified here for your own evaluation of the relevancy of the material this course is based on.

George Stricker, Ph.D.

Dr. Stricker is Distinguished Research Professor of Psychology and former dean of the Derner Institute, Adelphi University. He has received the American Psychological Association Award for Distinguished Contribution to Applied Psychology, the American Psychological Association Award for Distinguished Career Contributions to Education and Training in Psychology, and numerous other awards. His most recent books include The Comprehensive Handbook of Psychotherapy Integration and The Scientific Practice of Professional Psychology.

Ron Kraus, Ph.D., C.S.W.

Dr. Kraus is a clinical and child psychologist. He has taught traditional as well as online courses at Fairleigh Dickinson University since 1998. He founded the American and International Association of Online Psychotherapy and served as the 2003 President of the International Society for Mental Health Online.

Course Creator

Keith Gibson, Ph.D.

Dr. Gibson is a Clinical Psychologist with over 30 years in research, clinical and consulting practice. He has also held leadership roles in research administration and program evaluation and more recently has specialized in program evaluation and system analysis. He draws upon his years of expertise as a practicing psychologist, administrator, researcher and technologist to help universities evaluate their programs to implement, meet, and maintain CACREP standards.

Target Audience

This course is recommended for licensed health care professionals; especially psychologists, counselors, and social workers, who are looking for ways to expand their practices online and/or to help round out treatment to specific patients who might benefit from online therapy in addition to traditional delivery. It is appropriate for an introductory to intermediate level of participants' knowledge.

Learning Objectives

After taking this activity, you should be able to:

  1. 1 Summarize the history and the research relating to online mental health care and to discuss the benefits and limitations inherent in online counseling.
  2. 2 Analyze online counseling in terms of the therapeutic meaning that can be expressed in different kinds of chat or email communications.
  3. 3 Apply the technology of online counseling.
  4. 4 Practice counseling or psychological testing online with an understanding of the cultural, ethical and legal issues that apply.
  5. 5 Discuss clinical theory and practice as it applies to online counseling. Participants will become familiar with different modalities of online counseling, along with pertinent theoretical and therapeutic considerations.
  6. 6 Discuss future developments in the evolution of online counseling.

Disclosure to Learners

CE Learning Systems adheres to the ACCME's Standards for Integrity and Independence in Accredited Continuing Medical Education. Any individuals in a position to control the content of a CE activity – including faculty, planners, reviewers, or others ― are required to disclose all relevant financial relationships with ineligible entities (formerly known as commercial interests).

The following relevant financial relationships have been disclosed by this activity's planners, faculty, and the reviewer:

Planners and Reviewers

The planners of this activity have reported that they have no relevant financial relationships.

Material Authors

There are no known relevant financial relationships to disclose.

Course Creator

Keith Gibson, Ph.D. – There are no known relevant financial relationships to disclose.

Commercial support

There is no commercial support for this distance-learning course.

Use our CE Approvals tool to look up your state requirements and how can help you meet them, or log in to your member account to show approvals relevant to your licensure.

National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC)

12 CE credit hours
Eligible until Apr 30th, 2026
CE Learning Systems has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 5951. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. CE Learning Systems is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs. 12 NBCC hour(s) awarded.
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Florida Board of Clinical Social Work, Marriage and Family Therapy and Mental Health Counseling (FL CSW, MFT, MHC)

12 CE credit hours
Eligible until Mar 27th, 2027
Impact CE, a service of CE Learning Systems, is approved by the Florida Board of Clinical Social Work, Marriage and Family Therapy and Mental Health Counseling (Provider # 50-315).
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Florida Board of Psychology

12 CE credit hours
Eligible until Mar 31st, 2031
Impact CE, a service of CE Learning Systems, is approved by the Florida Board of Psychology (Provider # 50-315).
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Illinois Dept of Professional Regulation - MFT (IDFPRMFT)

12 CE credit hours
Eligible until Feb 26th, 2027
CE-credit.com's distant learning courses are available for continuing education as required by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. CE Sponsor #168.000251.
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New York Education Department Board of Psychologists

12 CE credit hours
Eligible until Dec 29th, 2026
CE Learning Systems, LLC, (d/b/a impactce.com) is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Psychology as an approved provider of continuing education for psychologists, # PSY-0016.
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Online Counseling: A Handbook for Mental Health Professionals

References are located at the end of each chapter.

Online Counseling: A Handbook for Mental Health Professionals

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Course Details

12 CE Hours
Book
Course 102099

Profession Group

  • Behavioral Health

Availability

This course is retired. It is no longer available.

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