Professional Boundaries in Mental Health Care _ _________________________________________________
health professionals to reach people who would not otherwise have access to services (e.g., rural residents, people with certain disabilities) as well as those who want to receive services from home. To confidently provide distance services [70]: • Abide by all applicable licensing require-ments and professional standards of care. • Understand the technology being used. • Periodically check your state legislature’s website for the latest telehealth laws and regulations. • Check for a board policy statement that provides guid- ance on telepractice. • Check whether your state licensing board has issued policies related to telepractice. • Confirm that telehealth services (both in-state and across jurisdictional lines) are covered under your mal- practice policy. The COVID-19 public health emergency increased demand for mental and behavioral health services while driving most of those services to telehealth platforms. In response to this, in 2020, the APA led a campaign to maximize the availability of telepsychology services [71]. In March 2020, the federal gov- ernment designated psychologists as critical, essential workers, and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) improved access to care for Medicare beneficiaries. CMS issued further guidance to waive key telehealth requirements. Because the new legislation cannot supersede state licensing laws (e.g., those that prohibit psychologists from using telehealth to provide services across state lines), the APA drafted letters to governors in all 50 states urging them to temporarily suspend state licensing laws and regulations regarding telepsychology services to ensure continuity of care. Within weeks of receiving the APA letter [71]: • 12 states issued executive orders calling for expansion of telehealth service rates. • 14 states issued executive orders allowing patients to receive telehealth services in their own homes. • 16 states temporarily lifted licensing requirements. • 22 states either expanded their policies for out-of-state providers to temporarily practice in their states or insti- tuted emergency expedited registration for out-of-state providers. SOCIAL MEDIA With the advent of social media, clients can now search for and find the Facebook or Twitter page of their counselor, if one exists. Counselors who accept a client’s “friend request” are in essence agreeing that the counselor and client are now friends, creating a multiple relationship. As discussed, when clients have access to their counselor’s social media sites, both intentional and unintentional self-disclosures can occur.
Modern social networking systems (e.g., Facebook, Instagram) exemplify intentional self-disclosure without a particular cli- ent focus. In contrast, Internet search engines (e.g., Google, LexisNexis) may allow unintended disclosure of personal details of the professional’s life. Professionals should be aware and cognizant of social media involvement, including what information is public. Many sites offer ways to post minimal information if a connection to other professionals is desired. Avoid posting a profile photo that includes your family or other personal details, as these are public [72]. CONCLUSION Competent counselors are well-educated and well-versed in the ethics of their profession. They understand that trust is built over time in the therapeutic relationship, with the help of limits and boundaries, and that it is reinforced by empathic response. Competent, compassionate professionals are both self- and other-aware and able to seek appropriate supervision and consultation when necessary. They establish self-care boundaries in order to protect their own compassionate, empathic response as well as their physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being. This enables counselors to most effectively help their clients.
RESOURCES
American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy Code of Ethics https://www.aamft.org/Legal_Ethics/Code_of_Ethics.aspx APA Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct https://www.apa.org/ethics/code ACA Code of Ethics https://www.counseling.org/resources/aca-code-of-ethics. pdf NAADAC Code of Ethics https://www.naadac.org/code-of-ethics NBCC Code of Ethics https://www.nbcc.org/Assets/Ethics/NBCCCodeofEthics. pdf NASW Code of Ethics https://www.socialworkers.org/About/Ethics/Code-of-Ethic
WORKS CITED https://qr2.mobi/professional-boundaries
14
EliteLearning.com/Social-Work
Powered by FlippingBook