With possible clarity issues due to poor camera resolution and sound distortions leading to auditory issues, achieving the therapeutic alliance between practitioner and client is much more difficult to achieve in a telepsychology setting (Richardson et al., 2015). This presents an issue to focusing solely on telepsychology mediums of therapeutic interventions. One of the most complicated issues regarding telehealth and telepsychology is the variance in licensure policies in the United States. The American Psychological Association (APA) has not yet taken a definite stance on telepsychology (Perle et al., 2011), so there are currently no overarching ethical guidelines for the practice of psychology via internet-based mediums with the state-to-state …show more content…
Telepsychology allows psychological care to reach rural populations, something that was not previously possible before the age of the internet. Telepsychology also allows mental health services to reach individuals that may otherwise not seek treatment on their own. The fact that telepsychology exists in a world where computers and the internet are normal parts of American life also presents an advantage as people may be more willing to use telepsychological interventions. However, ambiguity in licensure requirements for telepsychology presents a concern. The therapeutic relationship is also modified in a telepsychology-based practice, which can be a disadvantage. Finally, training psychologists and psychology trainees to be well versed in telepsychology is not currently being carried out to the extent that it should to provide the best treatment possible for patients. While there are great benefits, the disadvantages of telepsychology must be dealt with first before we can achieve a valid telepsychology approach to treating