Telehealth for Skilled Helping Professionals

The impacts of COVID-19 have quickly caused a growing need for remote services in many areas of day-to-day life, and this includes the daily duties of all skilled helping professionals. 

In this new remote world, it is increasingly essential that skilled helpers are knowledgeable in successful telehealth practices to provide quality care no matter the distance.

Course Description

To be a successful telehealth professional, skilled helpers must be fluent in translating professional skills and tools such as empathy, rapport building, body language recognition, communication, and utilization of a person in an environment lens through computer and video screens. 

This Telehealth for the Skilled Helping Professional course provides training for skilled helpers to learn and increase their ability to successfully navigate the following when providing virtual care:

• Building the Helping Relationship (Rapport Building)
• Helping Consumers Act (Consumer Engagement, Assessment, Planning)
• Virtual Communication Skills
• Telehealth Interventions for the Skilled Professional Helper
• Telehealth Ethical Considerations

Program Details

Who should participate?

• Social Workers
• Counselors
• Physical Therapists
• Occupational Therapist
• Professional Coaches
• Healthcare workers
• Nurses
• Criminal Justice professionals
• Clinical/Intern Students
• Educators and more

Program Faculty

Alaysha M. Cheeks, an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Social Work and Gerontology, is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with over a decade of experience working with adults, children, and families in outpatient, inpatient, mobile service (natural environment), residential treatment, forensic and private practice settings. She has clinical experience and specialized education in trauma treatment, behavioral issues, family dynamics, and mental health.

Both her clinical and personal experiences as an educator, clinician, and community activist have contributed to her specialization in family systems, trauma including symptomology, trauma-focused intervention (including the Sanctuary Model), and education, and natural setting treatment/assessment. She is especially interested in educating professionals on the many facets of the human experience when influenced by time, culture, and technology in an ever-evolving society.