Training the Psychologist of the Future in the Use of Digital Mental Health Technologies

• Published in: Professional psychology, research and practice research and practice, 2024-10, Vol.55 (5), p.395-404
• Main Authors: Ruzek, Josef I., Sadeh-Sharvit, Shiri, Bunge, Eduardo L., Sheperis, Donna S., Fitzsimmons-Craft, Ellen, Guinn, Victoria, Joseph, Roshni, Cameron, Erika, Taylor, C. Barr
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Clinical medicine; Clinical Psychologists; Curricula; Digital Interventions; Electronic Health Services; Human; Medical personnel; Medical technology; Mental Health; Mental health professionals; Mental health services; Online Therapy; Pandemics; Professional Certification; Psychologists; Seminars; Skill development; Supervisors; Telepsychology; Therapists; Training; Treatment methods
• ISSN: 0735-7028; 1939-1323
• DOI: 10.1037/pro0000567

The pandemic forced virtually all mental health professionals to use some form of digital technology, yet few receive any training in digital mental health tools (DMHT). Therapists and students in all mental health treatment settings should be trained to routinely include DMHT in their practice. In this article, we describe why DMHT will play an increasingly important part in clinical mental health practice and discuss how we train psychologists and counselors in our eClinic to learn the basics of incorporating digital technologies into the care they provide. More specifically, we describe the three basic components of the training: (a) an asynchronous onboarding program; (b) a didactic curriculum, implemented via monthly core skill development seminars led by experts in digital mental health practice; and (c) ongoing weekly supervision by licensed supervisors. The eClinic training approach described is a work in progress, and we expect to adjust it to follow the evolution of digital tools for mental health assessment and treatment. Public Significance Statement The present article suggests that, despite the fact that digital mental health interventions are playing an increasingly important part in clinical mental health practice, few mental health providers have received any kind of formal training related to digital therapeutics. It argues that the training of psychologists and other mental health professionals should routinely include the development of knowledge and skills related to the delivery of digital interventions and gives an example of the design of a training program.