Liability insurance is also known as malpractice insurance. If you’re already practicing independently, there’s a good chance you have this already. If someone is in private practice then this is a necessity. Betterhelp offers some liability coverage but it’s only secondary to your own and is always subject to change.
You also want to make sure that whatever insurance you choose provides coverage for practicing telehealth. It’s likely it will but it’s worth double checking. Some providers may charge an extra fee for this.
Some options for coverage:
By now, you may have learned that Betterhelp has their own sort of “informed consent.” This is great (for them) but does not take the place of your own informed consent. This is where you want to outline therapy protocols, expectations, risks, etc. You can include a no-show policy and termination policy here.
Have a plan for how you’re doing to do this. Some people still write their notes. Some people type them.
There are EHRs that people use with betterhelp. This is an option if you don’t mind paying the extra fee. SimplePractice is a popular one. These are helpful if you’re also doing therapy outside of Betterhelp, like those in private practice.
Some people write their notes within Betterhelp. I see no problem with this but you should decide for yourself. In case you never need to refer to them OR produce them, do now what will be easier later.
It goes without saying but make sure you have a working, internet-connected device.
A laptop is best but tablets also work.
Make sure you’re using Google Chrome or Firefox for the best settings. Video only works through those browsers.
Your phone will work only if you’re doing a phone session.