the use of a Security Information Module (SIM) card. This card identifies the owner and stores data and can be removed from the cellular device. The device may also have a memory chip, which is a microchip that can be plugged into a computer to provide more memory. An eSIM card is hardwired into the phone so it cannot be removed or stolen, making it more secure. Mobile devices may not have the capability to restrict access to data by encryption and authentication, so practitioners must be cautious when sharing ePHI using mobile devices. Sending or receiving information through publicly available Wi-Fi, or unsecured cellular networks, risks exposing ePHI to anyone. To ensure that ePHI is not compromised or stolen when using a mobile device, the practitioner must use a secure website or a virtual private network (VPN) that
encrypts information as it is received and sent from the device. Another risk is that mobile devices are small, light, and portable so they can be easily lost or stolen, with theft as a primary form of security breach. Ethical codes and the HIPAA Privacy Rule will continue to be revised but may not keep pace with the constant changes in these technologies. Therapists are always responsible for protecting client privacy and information disclosed to them in confidence. Telemental health delivery requires sophisticated equipment and safety precautions for various technology systems. It is advisable to contact a technology consultant to design an appropriate system with privacy and security safeguards that will meet all requirements of the jurisdictions being served.
ACA SOCIAL MEDIA TIPS
Practitioners must be cautious to avoid the negative effects of social media and the inherent ethical concerns when using these platforms. It should be noted that cyber bullying on social media is a major problem and has been linked to severe psychological distress and suicide among youth. Social Media: 10 Tips for Professional Counselors (ACA, n.d.) 1. Make sure professional social media accounts are separate from personal accounts. It is a good idea to keep personal accounts private (ACA Code of Ethics H.6.a.). 2. Learn everything about social media platforms prior to use. Be sure to understand the various platforms’ purposes and operations, including their privacy controls (H.1.a.). 3. Do not share confidential information on social media, even in closed/private settings. Nonprofessionals may have access to that information (H.6.d.). 4. Do not disclose/identify individuals in social media posts, even if they are public figures. 5. If you would not say it in real life, do not post it online. Statements have weight (C.6.c.). Keep in mind that values and beliefs shared online may be viewed by clients, employers, counseling education programs, membership organizations, other professionals, and the general public. 6. Be accurate and appropriate in the portrayal of education, licensure, accreditation, expertise, and memberships. The ACA advertising/promotion ethical standards apply to social media, too (C.3.). 7. Do not view a client’s social media profile without permission, even if it is public (H.6.c.). Keep in mind that personal virtual relationships with current clients are prohibited (A.5.e.). 8. Counselors and counseling-related organizations must develop a social media policy. Information about this policy must be included in informed consent documents for clients and should be posted on professional social media pages and websites (A.2.b.). 9. Social media policies should cover the risks, especially to confidentiality, and benefits of interacting with counselors on social media, as well as the expectations clients should have when interacting with a counselor’s professional social media account (H.6.b.). Follow all of the social media guidelines listed in the 2014 ACA Code of Ethics.
Self-Assessment Question 4 To ensure that ePHI is not compromised or stolen when using a mobile device, the practitioner must use a: a. Secure website or VPN that encrypts information as it is received and sent from the device. b. Hardwired SIM card that cannot be stolen. c. Tech monitoring service to identify and erase security breaches. d. Two-way communication device that is in a secure environment. Conversion/Reparative Therapy In the last few years, the second largest area of revision to the ethics codes has been the opposition by ACA, AAMFT, and NBCC to the practice of conversion/reparative therapy. Many counselors have consulted ACA staff and leaders concerning the ethics involved in the practice of conversion therapy, also known as reparative therapy. Many state and federal initiatives have enacted proposals to ban the practice entirely. The ACA ethics committee shared its formal interpretation of specific sections of the Code of Ethics concerning the practice of conversion therapy, which is a practice designed to change sexual orientation from homosexual to heterosexual (ACA, 2015). The ACA published the following information on their website in 2015 and has republished it in 2023: “Dr. David Kaplan, ACA’s Chief Professional Officer, testified before the Washington, D.C. Committee on Health in support of a bill banning conversion therapy for minors. “The American Counseling Association has adopted an unequivocal policy against reparative therapy. Reparative therapy is not congruent with the American Counseling Association’s Code of Ethics as the effects of efforts to change sexual orientation have been found to cause damage to individuals who have been exposed to it,” Dr. Kaplan said. Additionally, the American Psychological Association has found the practice to be “unlikely to be successful and involve some risk of harm.” In his testimony, Dr. Kaplan also said the following: “The word ‘therapy’ should really not be used when talking about sexual orientation change efforts. ‘Therapy’ is a clinical word and refers to a mental health intervention. ‘Reparative therapy’ is not a mental health intervention since it does not
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