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Best practice guide

Telehealth for behavioral health care
For providers › ‹ Best practice guides

Introduction to telehealth for behavioral health care

Behavioral health — like other areas of health care — has changed significantly due to the COVID-19 public health emergency. It is now easier for mental health providers to offer and get reimbursed for telebehavioral health services. Telehealth can also make behavioral health services safer and more private and convenient for patients who can access care from their home.

When behavioral health care is delivered via telehealth it is sometimes referred to as telebehavioral health, telemental health, telepsychiatry, or telepsychology. Common types of telebehavioral care are individual therapy, group therapy, and substance use disorder treatment.

Getting started
Developing a telebehavioral
health strategy
Billing for
telebehavioral health
Preparing patients
for telebehavioral health

Types of telebehavioral health

Individual teletherapy

Individual teletherapy uses online and digital mental health tools to deliver one-on-one therapy.

Group teletherapy

Group teletherapy is usually done online and offers added mental health benefits of community, reduced feelings of isolation, and new perspectives.

Tele-treatment for substance use disorder

Virtual, telebehavioral health care can be part of an integrated approach to treating substance use disorders.