During a telemental health session, what is the policy about driving while connected to the call?

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The key idea is safety and privacy in telemental health. Driving while you or the client is connected creates real danger: cognitive load and divided attention while steering or reacting to road conditions can impair the ability to participate in the session, recognize crises, or implement safety plans. Privacy is also compromised because a car often isn’t a private, controlled space, and conversations could be overheard by passengers or bystanders, or exposed if the device is visible or unsecured. Consent or using a hands-free setup does not remove these risks, and geographic location (such as rural areas) doesn’t change the safety requirements. If the client is driving, pause or reschedule the session or have them pull over to a safe location before continuing. Follow established emergency protocols if a crisis arises.