Table 2. Codes of Ethics Summaries
American Counseling Association (ACA) ACA Code of Ethics (2014)
A.12 Technology Applications
Counselors assess and confirm that the uses of technology-assisted services are appropriate for individual clients.
H.6.a Virtual Professional Presence
Counselors maintain separate professional and personal social media sites in order to distinguish between these two types of virtual presence. American Mental Health Counselors Association (AMHCA) AMHCA Code of Ethics (2020) Certified Clinical Mental Health Counselors (CCMHC) inform the client of specific limitations, potential risks, and/or potential benefits relevant to the client's anticipated use of online counseling services. CCMHCs recognize that technology has become culturally normative worldwide and may employ modern technology communications judiciously, attentive to both the benefits and risks to clients and to the therapeutic process of using technologies to arrange, deliver, or support counseling. Guidelines available at https://www.amhca.org/ events/publications/ethics American Psychological Association (APA) APA Ethics Code (2017) Psychologists obtain the necessary education, training, and experience before providing services using new technologies. Guidelines available at http://www.apa.org/practice/ guidelines/telepsychology.aspx National Association of Social Workers (NASW) Code of Ethics of the NSAW (2021b) [Also see Standards for Technology in Social Work Practice ]
I.B.2.d Informed Consent
I.B.6 Telehealth, Distance Counseling and the Use of Social Media
Guidelines for the Practice of Telepsychology
1.03 Informed Consent
Clients should be informed about the limitations and risks of technology-assisted services. Social workers should verify the feasibility of technology for remote services. 1.07 Privacy and Confidentiality Social workers do not use the Internet or other electronic searches for the investigation of clients, unless clients have given their social worker specific and informed consent. 1.15 Interruption of Services Social workers should be prepared to address disruptions in electronic communications. National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) NBCC Code of Ethics (2016) 19-21, 54
National Certified Counselors (NCC) are aware of the potential for client harm in the informal use of social media and other related technology with clients, former clients, and their family and friends. NCCs develop written practice procedures with respect to digital technology, including social media, which are provided to clients prior to or during a first session. The procedures specify that personal and professional accounts are separate and address client and counselor interaction via social media resources. NCCs inform clients of appropriate forms of digital communication. Electronic communications with clients, including via social media and other digital technologies, are a part of the client record.
Telemental Health Services with Children Following the research of telemental health with adults, there are increasing numbers of studies involving the use of telemental health with children and adolescents (Comer & Myers, 2016). Similar to adults needing mental healthcare, telemental health services are used to provide services to children and youth who have difficulty accessing face-to- face care because of geographical barriers or lack of service providers. Specialists who work with children and youth are especially difficult to find in many areas, particularly in rural communities. Similar to the research with adults, results of telemental health studies with children and youth yield outcomes that are comparable to those of face-to-face studies, though data continue to emerge with this population (Comer et al., 2017; Gloff et al., 2015). Studies of telemental health services show effectiveness in the treatment of children and youth for various conditions, such as attention-deficit/ hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), bulimia nervosa, panic disorder, agoraphobia, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), depression, PTSD, and adjustment disorder (Gloff et
al., 2015). Parent training with children 3 to 5 years of age using videoconferencing is also reported to be effective (Comer et al., 2017). Mental health practice with children and youth differs from adult practice in several ways (Hilty et al., 2016; Kobak et al., 2015). Clinicians working with children and youth are often concerned with developmental disorders and problems with an early onset that often need the involvement of family members and other social systems. Treatment modalities differ in that parents are often involved and approaches, such as play therapy or behavior training, may be used. Telemental health services are often provided in collaboration with primary care physicians to provide treatment to young individuals and their families (Gloff et al., 2015). Clinical services for children and youth require special consideration, especially if these services are to be provided with videoconferencing technology. The clinician will need to adapt in-office assessments and interventions for use with videoconferencing equipment. Assessment and treatment of children often involve active interventions, such as play
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