Telepractice started to largely expand in the year 2020 when the Covid-19 pandemic began. This was essential for patients to continue to receive mental health services.

Telepractice and Covid-19 Pandemic

A research study was conducted to assess the effectiveness of utilizing telepractice versus traditional forms of assessment when testing language and literacy skills, specifically the Test of Integrated Language and Literacy Skills (TILLS). 

Telepractice versus Traditional Assessment of Language and Literacy Skills Study

Telepractice is the emerging way of psychological or counseling treatment when in-person treatment is not an option or remote/virtual treatment is preferred. Diagnostic psychological assessments can also be adapted to be conducted through telepractice. 

Oakland University

- Psychotherapy
- Pharmacological 
- Hospitalization/Inpatient treatment
- Support groups
- Alternative treatment
- Telepractice
- Neuromodulation
- Biomedical therapy

Mental Health Treatment Methods/Interventions

Nelson, N. W., & Plante, E. (2022). Evaluating the equivalence of telepractice and traditional administration of the test of integrated language and literacy skills. Language, Speech & Hearing Services in Schools (Online), 53(2), 376-390. doi:https://doi.org/10.1044/2022_LSHSS-21-00056

Evaluating the equivalence of telepractice and traditional administration of the test of integrated language and literacy skills

Psychopharmacology is the study of medications as a treatment for mental disorders. This includes understanding:

1. Protein binding

2. Half-life

3. Polymorphic genes

4. Drug - to - drug Interactions

Psychopharmacology

Any action intended to interfere with and stop or modify a process, as in treatment undertaken to halt, manage, or alter the course of the pathological process of a disease or disorder.

Intervention

Peer support is social emotional support that is mutually offered or provided by persons having a mental health condition to others sharing a similar mental health condition to bring about a desired social or personal change. 

Peer support

- Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT)
- Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)
- Deep brain stimulation (DBS)
- Vagal nerve stimulation (VNS)

Somatic Therapy

A therapy that utilizes pharmaceutical drugs (i.e., antidepressants) in order to treat disorders. 

Pharmacotherapy

Telepractice

Any type of treatment that does not align with the typical or conventional means of medicine.

Alternative Treatment

- Use of evidence-based treatment
- Reliance of treatment guidelines
- Technological advances to improve care
- A broader look at patient function
- Use of International Classification of Disease
- Better measures of treatment outcomes

Improving Practice in Mental Health Treatment 

References for Neuromodulation 

According to the International Neuromodulation Society, neuromodulation is a "technology that acts directly upon nerves" to alter or modulate nerve activity by "delivering electrical or pharmaceutical agents directly to the target areas. 

Neuromodulation methods can be invasive or non-invasive, as well as electrical, magnetic, or chemical. Some of these methods involve:

- Invasive Electrical Methods

- Non-invasive Electrical Methods 

- Non-invasive Magnetic Methods 

- Invasive Chemical Methods

Neuromodulation 

Psychotherapy, also known as talk therapy, is a psychological treatment that employs a variety of methods to help individuals overcome personal problems, resolve emotional difficulties, and achieve personal growth. The primary goals are to help people find relief from distress, seek solutions to challenges, and modify unhelpful patterns of thinking and acting. Psychotherapy can be utilized as a standalone treatment or in conjunction with other approaches, such as biomedical therapy.

Psychotherapy

Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is a form of psychotherapy centered on helping clients examine and change the relationship between their thoughts and their behaviors. The primary goal is to identify and modify cognitive distortions and self-defeating actions, thereby changing not only how individuals think but also how they act in response to various situations.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

Biomedical therapy is a treatment approach for psychological disorders that involves the use of medication and/or medical procedures. These biological interventions can be administered as a primary treatment or in conjunction with other forms of therapy, such as psychotherapy.

Biomedical Therapy

Therapeutic approaches for mental health can be broadly categorized into two primary types: psychological interventions, which focus on thoughts and behaviors, and biological interventions, which involve medical treatments. Both categories share the ultimate goal of alleviating psychological distress.

Psychological vs. Biological Interventions

Analyze the following case study. Based on the client's symptoms and stated preferences, which combination of treatment methods would be most appropriate to recommend as a starting point? Justify your reasoning by explaining how each recommended method addresses a specific aspect of the client's situation.

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