TeleBehavioral Health: Diving Deeper into Facilitating Virtual Groups

Overview:
Dr. Shearer will address the needed adaptations and strategies for facilitating tele-group therapy, including privacy and confidentiality considerations.

Erika Shearer PhD, Patient Care Line Manager, Primary Care Mental Health Integration, Veteran’s Administration (VA) Portland Health Care System

Biography:
Dr. Shearer is a Patient Care Line Manager for the Primary Care Mental Health Integration service at the Veteran’s Administration Portland Health Care System. Her areas of expertise include using telehealth technologies to provide and increase access to mental health services, telesupervision, and integrated health care. She provides telehealth training and consultation throughout and outside of the VA Health Care System. Her academic interests include mindfulness and acceptance strategies in the treatment of psychological issues related to chronic medical conditions, pain, telesupervision, and all things related to telemental health.

Learning Objectives:

1. Describe adaptations needed to facilitate behavioral health groups via video-based modality.
2. Discuss privacy and confidentiality-related considerations for virtual groups.
3. Identify strategies to improve virtual group facilitation.