Nothing offers higher quality and security than T1 and T3 line connections, which refer to multiplexed systems that provide point-to-point transmission rather than transmitting data from the Internet Protocol (IP) addresses of two computers over a public network. However, such connections are quite expensive and as such are not feasible for connecting a therapist to individual families in their respective homes. In the middle are easy-to-use web conferencing appliances designed for large and small organizations to enable “virtual” meetings (e.g., Webex, GoToMeeting). These appliances also afford desktop sharing, which can be very useful for sharing PCIT handouts or graphs

depicting weekly Veliparib purchase symptom response (e.g., Eyberg Child Behavior Inventory scores, changes in parent skills assessed via weekly Dyadic Parent–child Interaction Coding System observations) with treated families. In our work, these graphs and handouts are brought up on the therapist’s screen during appropriate points in treatment, and then the desktop sharing tool is applied to enable the family to see the therapist’s screen as he or she explains what they are looking

at. Users can log on anytime, from anywhere. Pricing for such programs typically range from $19–$49 per month, and only the “host” (i.e., the therapist) needs an account. Important matters of security and encryption when selecting a videoconferencing platform for I-PCIT are discussed in detail elsewhere (see Elkins & Comer, in press). Providers must be assured that they are complying with HIPAA regulatory guidelines

relating to use, disclosure, and storage of selleck compound Decitabine confidential information. For further peace of mind, we ask all families to avoid using last names during session, and to generate access IDs that do not include their names in them. Finally, prior to obtaining informed consent for I-PCIT treatment, we make sure that all families understand that, as with all Internet-based communications, there is the potential for breach of confidentiality, either from interception of confidential information or from accessing the Internet over a public network. As Van Allen and Roberts (2011) considered in depth elsewhere, technological innovations and opportunities for conducting psychological treatments over the Internet are advancing at a more rapid pace than the development of relevant regulatory, ethical, and legal standards. As such, we must be cautious against conducting technology-assisted treatment in the absence of guidance from the broader professional community, particularly given the unique security, privacy, and liability concerns associated with such care. Fortunately, a guiding dialogue has begun to unfold regarding the management of threats to confidentiality (Schwartz and Lonborg, 2011 and Yuen et al., 2012)—addressing key issues such as privacy protection and encryption. However, we still have a long way to go.