REGULATING PSYCHOLOGISTS IN NOVA SCOTIA SINCE 1980

I’m just wondering if you could clarify an issue for me. I have been seeing a Veterans Affairs client for a number of years and now, my client is relocating to Mexico for the winter months and returning to Nova Scotia in the spring. She has asked if I can continue to see her virtually while she is in Mexico, just for check-in’s once a month, for a total of four sessions. My understanding is that because I’m not registered/licensed to practice in Mexico, that I’m able to offer her psychological services while my client is abroad.

Veterans Affairs, however, states that they do arrange health care services for Veterans internationally and that they’d be happy to continue to finance psychological services for my client while she is in Mexico.

If you could just clarify whether or not I am able to offer four virtual sessions to my client while she is in Mexico, I would greatly appreciate it.

A

I’m just wondering if you could clarify an issue for me. I have been seeing a Veterans Affairs client for a number of years and now, my client is relocating to Mexico for the winter months and returning to Nova Scotia in the spring. She has asked if I can continue to see her virtually while she is in Mexico, just for check-in’s once a month, for a total of four sessions. My understanding is that because I’m not registered/licensed to practice in Mexico, that I’m able to offer her psychological services while my client is abroad.

Veterans Affairs, however, states that they do arrange health care services for Veterans internationally and that they’d be happy to continue to finance psychological services for my client while she is in Mexico.

If you could just clarify whether or not I am able to offer four virtual sessions to my client while she is in Mexico, I would greatly appreciate it.

Sure, but It does not actually change things. Same as other scenarios for telepsychology when the client is outside Atlantic.

She would have to check with Mexico since they may consider it practice there. NSRP has jurisdiction on her work she does in NS, but it is possible that Mexico may consider working with the client to be practice there. If they were okay with it then we would not have a problem as long as she followed the NSRP telepsychology standards but this would be conditional upon making sure it was okay with Mexico.

Reference: 
Telepsychology and Veteran Affairs
Posted on December 29, 2021
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