when telemental health sessions are home-based (Johnson, 2014; Luxton et al., 2014). Clinicians should ensure they are following applicable state and federal laws required for the safe transmission and release of medical information as well as professional guidelines for ethical practice (Johnson, 2014; Luxton et al., 2014; Telebehavioral Health Institute, 2013). Many professional organizations provide individual guidelines for ethical practice, but for telemental health practitioners, competency, such as adequate professional and technical knowledge and skills, is especially important (Johnson, 2014; Telebehavioral Health Institute, 2013). Practitioners must disclose potential risks associated with telemental health practice, such as breaches of privacy, during the informed consent process (Luxton et al., 2014). In addition, they should inform clients about the challenges that may present themselves while using video platforms for therapy services. Various professional organizations have issued technology- specific directives and included guidance with respect to the use of technology and telemental health service
provision in their ethics codes. For example, in 2017, the NASW, Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB), Council on Social Work Education (CSWE), and Clinical Social Work Association jointly published the Standards for Technology in Social Work Practice. The standards are intended to work in conjunction with the NASW (2017) Code of Ethics and are divided into four main sections related to the ways in which social workers use technology to “(1) provide information to the public; (2) design and deliver services; (3) gather, manage, store, and access information about clients; and (4) educate and supervise social workers” (NASW, 2017, p. 13). The American Psychological Association (APA) has also created guidelines for the practice of telepsychology. Much of the guidance from professional associations relates to the professional use of technology and social media, rather than telemental health specifically. Table 2 provides summaries of the guidelines for telemental health from the codes of ethics of the APA, NASW, American Mental Health Counselors Association (AMHCA), National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC), and American Counseling Association (ACA).
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.
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Book Code: SWFL1825
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