We’re celebrating 7 million teletherapy sessions since 2009 by highlighting the inspiring leaders and innovators at Presence who are dedicated to building solutions for schools and students with diverse needs.
Bonnie Contreras, Ed.S., NCSP, is the Senior Director of Clinical Solutions at Presence. Bonnie’s 15-year career as a traditional and remote school psychologist has fueled her passion for connecting students with diverse needs to highly qualified practitioners through teletherapy. She holds multiple state licenses, maintains her NCSP credential, and works to expand remote services in PreK-12 education through meaningful solutions and partnerships.
What’s your role at Presence?
As a Senior Director of Clinical Solutions at Presence, Bonnie leverages her experience as a school-based and virtual school psychologist to serve students with diverse needs. She crafts meaningful solutions and partnerships for remote therapy in PreK-12 settings, connecting students with identified needs to highly-qualified teletherapy practitioners.
What motivates you to champion remote services for schools?
Seeing the success of teletherapy firsthand—and how it compares to traditional in-person methods—inspires me to share the benefits of remote therapy with more schools, parents, and peers.
I’ve always valued direct counseling and supporting students with behavioral challenges. I remember working with a bright young man in Texas—he was a student with significant needs facing potential placement in a different school due to escalating behavioral issues. He was making great progress, but after an incident at school, the district decided to make a change of placement.
I saw him shortly before the change and he was really distraught, struggling to calm down enough to explain what had happened. He was finally able to share his frustration of what led to the fight and shared he was upset by the idea of losing our sessions together. The moment I told him, “I’ll still see you next week, even at your new campus,” I saw his relief. Teletherapy ensured the continuity of care he desperately needed and provided stability in a moment of uncertainty.
7 ways remote services are changing school psychology
1. Meets students where they are, creating lasting impact
As practitioners and educators, teletherapy lets us reach more students and work more efficiently while still generating positive outcomes. At the same time, we’ve seen a clear trend—many students feel more comfortable receiving mental and behavioral health support virtually. Having regular access to their providers, without the worry of running into them at school or in their community, makes a huge difference. That level of privacy can be incredibly powerful for students.
2. Breaks barriers, builds connection, expands possibilities
For students with low-incidence disabilities who need specialized training or support, teletherapy opens up access to thousands of qualified professionals nationwide—even in isolated areas. It can also help connect students that are not in the same physical location but have a similar need. For example, a student who has recently lost a parent may not have peers nearby who can relate. Virtual support makes it possible for them to connect with others facing similar challenges, providing a sense of understanding and community.
This potential inspires me to help push this frontier forward.
“As more assessment publishers shift to digital-first tools, school psychology continues to evolve and meet students where they are—both physically and technologically.”
3. Allows for more efficient evaluations
Timely evaluations are essential to ensure students receive the services they need to thrive. Conducting evaluations virtually can help reduce administration time and allow school psychologists—who are uniquely qualified to conduct comprehensive assessments—reach more students.
Presence has led the advancement of remote evaluation, with our efficacy studies for the WJ IV and WISC-V. With the recent launch of digital-first solutions, like the new WJ V battery of assessments, we are seeing more emphasis placed on technology in the field of school psychology. While the WJ V was released for in-person use, we are proud to be partnering with Riverside Insights on a clinical study to demonstrate outcomes of the WJ V assessment via remote administration. This broader shift toward digital-first solutions allows us to meet students where they are—both physically and technologically.
As this work continues, remote evaluations are opening new doors—connecting more students with qualified professionals and helping them get the support they need, faster.
4. Enhances connection with on-demand resources
Remote service delivery has completely changed how school psychologists access resources, curriculum, and activities. In the past, we relied on whatever was available, often adapting the same materials for multiple students, even if they weren’t the best fit.
With virtual platforms like Presence, there’s instant access to a vast library of materials, making it easier to find exactly what a student needs in the moment.If a student tells me they love a certain animal, I can instantly pull up an activity featuring those animals as an engagement tool or reward. The ability to connect with students in a way that feels relevant to them and puts them at the center is really powerful.
5. Offers more flexibility to help school psychologists thrive
Virtual practice makes it possible for experienced professionals to stay in the field, whether they’re transitioning from full-time work, returning from a break, or moving frequently. As a military spouse, virtual practice let me continue supporting students through relocations. Instead of starting over with every move, I could stay active in practice. Flexibility like this is helping retain professionals in our industry in ways never before possible.
6. Navigating change while prioritizing student support
When it comes to changes to school psychology, shifts in U.S. education policy and funding are a big concern, especially for special education. While budget decisions at the federal and state levels will shape the future, it’s essential we stay focused on the students, families, and educators at the heart of this work.
I’ve seen firsthand how much progress has been made in special education. I remember when I was in third grade, a trailer was set up on our playground for students who were deaf or hard of hearing who had been moved from other schools. Back then, inclusion was in its infancy, and these students were separated from their peers. Curious, I asked to visit their class, I began learning sign language, and built lasting friendships. It’s incredible to see how much has changed with better funding and protections, but I worry about losing these safeguards. That’s why teletherapy is so vital. It’s a solution that empowers schools to provide consistent support, even with changing circumstances, allowing educators to stay committed to the students who need it most.
7. Meets the challenges of growing student needs
With rising student needs and ongoing shortages, school psychology must continue to evolve. Expanding roles within the field, for example, incorporating special education teachers into the evaluation process or training more professionals for diagnostic work, can help meet the demand. Remote platforms expand access to training, oversight, and collaboration, empowering educators to administer assessments and provide support, regardless of location. They also make it easier for school psychologists to connect and share ideas, building a rich community of support.
“As a military spouse, virtual practice let me continue supporting students through relocations. Instead of starting over with every move, I could stay active in practice. Flexibility like this is helping retain professionals in our industry in ways never before possible.”
What does 7 million teletherapy sessions mean to you?
As a leader and practitioner in this field, it’s incredibly rewarding to be a part of facilitating 7 million teletherapy sessions. Some of these sessions, each one contributing to a student’s eligibility and IEP journey, may not have been possible otherwise. Knowing my work directly contributes to making a meaningful difference in students’ lives gives me a deep sense of purpose. I’m thrilled to be a part of such impactful work.
What’s your hope for the future of teletherapy?
My biggest hope is to see our field expand—I want to show everyone just how valuable school psychologists are. As the network of school psychologists we’re building at Presence keeps growing, I hope more clinicians feel supported in the incredible work they do.
Technology has the power to transform student outcomes. The school psychologists in our Presence network are doing some truly amazing things with technology, connecting with students in ways I never imagined. I’m excited to see how this keeps growing and changing for the better.
See how teletherapy is making a real difference in special education. Discover the milestones we’ve reached on our way to 7 million sessions.
Stay tuned as we continue to get to know the dedicated team at Presence, committed to diverse learners and the future of education through teletherapy.
