Questions on Telepsychology
At our discipline meeting yesterday, we reviewed some of the sections from the Annual Report that are relevant to the IWK (of course I encouraged folks to read the entire report, but pointed out sections that affect practice here or might in the future). We added on the most recent communication from NSRP about Telepractice, […]
I am interested in doing some work in private practice. I graduated from MASP in 2000 and consequently did practicums in counselling. I have a declared competency in counselling. The clinic where I applied wanted me to touch base to see if my declared competency would allow me to take on counselling cases. Of course I am thinking that the counselling cases would involved school-related issues and perhaps a cognitive behavioural approach for issues such as self-regulation-no clinical cases. I am wondering if there is someone I might speak to or if I am safe to take on such cases given my declared competency.
I have consulted on your enquiry. Registered Psychologists are expected to ensure they remain within their scope or seek out appropriate initiatives to expand within their scope. However, where you have previously self-declared counselling and had this listed on your practice profile, NSRP would not restrict you from doing any counselling work that you have […]
I would like to resume practice and change my stays from inactive to active registration. Please let me know the applicable fee and hours of competency that I need to complete.
For the question on Continuing Competence, since you would be transitioning back to full registration during the registration year, NSRP does not require a minimum number of credits for the current registration year, so you could use your discretion.
I’d like to receive the Board’s position on billing new clients who no-show to their first scheduled session. When clients first book a first session with me they are automatically sent my informed consent policy including no show/cancellation policy. Prior to their first session with me some will have electronically completed the form while others have not.
With current clients who provide me with a form of payment they are aware they will be charged if they no show. But they have agreed to my policies through informed consent that’s been signed and discussed with them.
If I inform all new clients prior to their first session of my no show/cancellation policy is that enough to then charge the client in the event they do not attend? And secondly, is it within the realm of ethical or not to require all new clients to at least provide a credit or debit card (all stored securely online with my HIPPA platform) that can be charged in the event of first session no show?Thanks in advance for your response. In the past it has seemed to me that until a client actually attends a first session it is hard to enforce a no show/cancellation policy. And I’d like to require some form of payment that I can charge in the event they do not meet the no show/cancellation policy, but obviously will not do this if it is not ethical in the view of the board.
I have consulted on your enquiry. While NSRP would not state this to be a “position”, we are happy to share some of the typical information that NSRP references for questions about billing and provide some additional considerations. Principle 6nA registrant shall reach an agreement with an individual, group or organization concerning the psychological services […]
I last had inquired to the Board March 18, 2021 (response below). I just want to make sure that nothing has changed with regards to the provision of Telepsychology services by a registered member of NSBEP. I am a registered Clinical Psychologist (#0912) with NSBEP. With my read of the new guidelines effective Sept. 27, 2021 nothing on the following items have changed but I wanted to further confirm.
1. The answers back in March were Yes and I wanted to re-confirm (See below email in March 2021).
Thank you for your time as I am sure with Telepsychology being so new over the past two years you have been inundated with questions,
You could let him know: From NSRP’s perspective, the announcement on September 29, 2021 from NSRP would still allow for the psychologist registered with NSRP to provide services to clients who are residing or located in Nova Scotia. NSRP would continue to caution that we cannot speak for another jurisdiction, so they may consider it […]
I had a call from someone asking what she should do about registration renewal. She went on Inactive status Feb 5 2021 and is planning on returning to work prior to the end of the year. She is wondering which is best:Pay the early bird payment now for full registration and send request to change status nownPay the Inactive status fee now and then when she knows the date of her return send the change of status then and pay the difference between full and inactive.
She can’t go on the Active Register unless she is able to receive supervision for 2 hours a month and most don’t do that when they’re busy on a maternity leave (and even if she could do that the savings would be minimal). So I think the only real option is for her to renew […]
Registrant called with the following scenario, He is opening a private practice that has 1 fully registered psychologist and 2 Candidate registrants:Would the fully registered psychologist be the sole owner or is it permissible for all three to be equal owners in the business.
As you probably recall, the following is a stated requirement in the Conditions of Candidacy for those on the Candidate Register:You are not permitted to engage in your own independent practice work during the period of candidacy. It is important for you to have access to a registered psychologist for collegial support, consultation and supervision […]
A psychologist is currently seeing a 19yr woman (approx.. 4 times so far), this 19 yr old client has an eating disorder. Mom and Dad have split, and they had shared custody, however client has not seen her father in over a year. The 19-year-old told Mom and her psychologist about emotional and physical abuse by the father.
The father remarried and the 19- year-old has a good relationship with her stepmom. They have a 3-year-old daughter. Father and stepmom have split, and the 3-year-old is showing signs of emotional abuse (when she comes home from father’s tells her mom she is a bad mom). The stepmom is requesting supervised visit with father.
The Stepmom would like the psychologist to write a letter stating that she doesn’t feel it is in the best interest for the 3yr old to have unsupervised visits and that the 3yr old is showing signs of abuse. This is all hearsay to the psychologist, and she is looking for guidance on what she can write if anything in this situation.
Based on the information provided by the psychologist, her choice not to write this letter would appear to be consistent with standards and guidelines around providing any type of opinion relating to parenting , custody and associated issues, etc. As described in the NSRP Custody and Access Evaluation Guidelines “the psychologist uses multiple avenues of […]
I was wondering if you could provide me with some direction on the appropriate storage of raw test data.
I work at a private practice that has a secure electronic client file (OWL) and we keep some paper psychoeducational assessment materials (e.g., completed VMI protocol, CTOPP record form, WIAT response form) in a locked filing cabinet.
Our psychology team was wondering if it would be appropriate to move to a solely electronic system, and scan these pieces of raw testing material onto our secure electronic system in a separate ‘raw testing data’ folder (with a note that it should not be released). I was curious if there are any other considerations NSBEP would recommend, including possibly consulting with Pearson/other relevant testing companies, to ensure this does not infringe on their copy right rules or other test security issues.
I have consulted regarding your enquiry. NSRP standards require that records be kept in accordance with Principle 7 of the NSRP Standards of Professional Conduct, but there is no requirement that they have to be paper records, i.e. they can be scanned and become totally electronic. https://www.ns-rp.ca/downloads/Binder_Standards_Legislation_Guidelines.pdf It is important that a reliable backup of […]
I’m a psychologist registered in Nova Scotia but I have a new/transfer client who is located in the Yukon and who will remain there for the foreseeable future. I’m wondering what NSBEP’s position is on providing services to someone in the Yukon given that there is no regulatory body for psychology there?
To answer your question, in this case, our understanding is exactly the same as yours that the Yukon, is one Canadian jurisdiction where there is no regulatory body in psychology to seek authorization from. You would not be prevented from providing service to this client. Like all situations involving telepsychology, we would refer you to […]
