Telebehavioral Health: Now a Social Work Imperative

At its essence, the social work field is interdependently linked to the social pulse of our communities. As the world faces an unprecedented health crisis, all forms of social work practice have turned to virtual approaches. Typically, the field strives to balance access and community need with the field’s commitment to careful consideration of new methods and adherence to ethical standards. 

In response to the pandemic, one formerly emerging model has almost overnight become a practice norm: telebehavioral health (TBH). 

COVID-19 Influences
In an episode of National Public Radio’s The Pulse, Jonathan B. Singer, PhD, LCSW, an associate professor of social work at Loyola University Chicago, noted, “Health systems that previously said they would need five years to ramp up for telehealth service delivery have now done so in weeks.”