Call to Action: A Telebehavioral Health Framework for Counselor Development

Abstract The widespread implementation of telebehavioral health (TBH) services, accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic, created an urgent need for standardized competencies in counselor education. Many practitioners report minimal formal training, leading to significant variability in competence and a concerning gap between their confidence and actual preparedness. This article issues a call to action for counseling programs to adopt the interprofessional TBH competency framework from the Coalition for Technology in Behavioral Science (CTiBS). This structured, evidence-based roadmap outlines knowledge and skills for competent, ethical TBH practice across seven domains and three progressive levels: novice, proficient, and authority. Adopting this framework will enhance counselor development, align training with the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) standards and reimbursement policies, and ensure practitioners are prepared for modern service delivery. This approach fosters ethical, culturally responsive care and prepares counselors to meet future demands in an era of rapidly evolving technology.