Telehealth Disclosure

Telehealth (also called teletherapy or telemental health) is the delivery of mental health services using secure video and audio technology rather than meeting in person. Telehealth allows you and your therapist to meet from different physical locations using interactive video. Telehealth services are provided under the same professional, ethical, and legal standards as in-person services.

ISDR uses SimplePractice Telehealth as its primary platform. Some clinicians, where applicable, additionally provide services through Headway. Both platforms operate under Business Associate Agreements that support HIPAA compliance.

To participate in telehealth sessions, you will need:

• A stable internet connection
• A device with a camera, microphone, and speaker (or headphones)
• A private, quiet location for the duration of the session

Your therapist will provide a secure link before each session.

• Technology failures. Internet, video, or audio issues can disrupt sessions. If we lose connection during a session, your therapist will attempt to reconnect; if reconnection is not possible within approximately ten minutes, your therapist will call or text the contact information you have provided.
• Technology failure during a crisis. If we lose connection during a session in which you have disclosed an acute safety concern, your therapist will not wait the standard ten-minute window and will contact you, your emergency contact, or local emergency services as soon as reconnection appears unlikely.
• Privacy and confidentiality. No electronic system is risk-free. Sessions could potentially be intercepted or accessed without authorization. The platform may collect basic account information; ISDR has selected platforms with appropriate security protections.
• Less complete clinical observation. Telehealth limits the visual and other cues your therapist can observe in person. This may make it more difficult to assess subtle aspects of presentation that can be relevant to your care.
• Not an emergency service. Telehealth is not an emergency service. In an emergency, please call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department.
• Crisis response. You and your therapist will develop a safety and emergency plan that includes your physical location at session, local emergency contacts, and local crisis resources.
• Limited platform data access. Your clinician does not have administrative-level access to the telehealth platform. We cannot retrieve, audit, or verify platform-level data such as session-quality logs, connection metadata, or any data the platform itself maintains. If you have questions about the platform's technical reliability or data handling, please consult the platform's own user agreement and privacy policy.
• Clinical fit. Some clinical presentations — active crisis, severe dissociation, certain phases of trauma work, active psychosis, or other clinical presentations as determined by your therapist's judgment — are better suited for in-person work. Your therapist will use clinical judgment to determine whether telehealth is appropriate for your needs and will discuss with you if in-person care is clinically indicated.

Telehealth, like all forms of therapy, does not guarantee specific outcomes. While telehealth has been found to be effective for a wide range of mental health concerns, there is no guarantee that treatment will be effective for any individual client, and results cannot be guaranteed or assured. Outcomes depend on individual circumstances, personal effort, the clinical match, and many factors outside the therapist's control. Your therapist will exercise their best professional judgment and care, but cannot promise specific results.

Telehealth services are subject to the licensure laws of the state where you (the client) are physically located at the time of the session — not the state where your therapist is located.

All ISDR clinicians are licensed in Utah; some are additionally licensed in other states. You may only attend telehealth sessions while physically located in a state where your clinician holds an active license. If you plan to travel — whether for vacation, work, or relocation — please tell your clinician in advance so they can confirm whether services can continue legally in your location. We may need to reschedule, briefly pause therapy while you are out of an authorized state, or take other steps to comply with licensing law. Because telehealth is regulated by the state where you are physically located during session, providing inaccurate location information could put your clinician's license at risk, may invalidate insurance coverage, and may make it impossible for us to continue your care safely or legally. Please confirm your physical location at the start of every telehealth session and tell us in advance if you are traveling.

Telehealth sessions cannot facilitate in-person crisis intervention. They are not an emergency service. If you experience a mental health emergency during a session, your therapist will follow these steps:

• Confirm your current location and address as the session begins (and at any point if your safety becomes a concern)
• Direct you to call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department if there is immediate danger
• Contact emergency services on your behalf if you are unable to do so and your location is known
• Provide you with crisis resources, including 988 (Suicide and Crisis Lifeline)

You will be asked to provide an emergency contact at intake.

Consent to telehealth is voluntary. You may withdraw consent and request in-person services at any time without affecting your right to continue treatment. If your therapist determines that telehealth is no longer clinically appropriate, you and your therapist will discuss alternatives, which may include in-person sessions (if available) or referral to another provider.