Psychological Association of the Philippines

Room 208, 2/F, PSSCenter Commonwealth Avenue, Diliman, Quezon City

Tel/Fax No.: 453-8257; E-mail Address: pap_1962_08@yahoo.com
PAP Website: pap.org.ph

Guide for Conducting Telepsychology During a Pandemic

Our country, and the rest of the world, is experiencing a crisis that has brought a lot of mental
health concerns to many. Various psychology professionals and advocates are willing to serve
by offering online psychological services. This guide is being released by the Psychological
Association of the Philippines to help ensure a high level of professional practice by psychology
professionals using telepsychology. Telepsychology, based on the APA Guidelines for the
Practice of Telepsychology, is the provision of psychological services using telecommunication
technologies, which include but are not limited to telephone, mobile devices, interactive
videoconferencing, e-mail, chat, and text.

1. Ensure competence
• Competence in practicing psychology
• RA10029 states that only registered and licensed psychologists are allowed to
provide counseling and psychotherapy. Make sure that you have a valid license to
conduct psychological intervention.
• Provide professional services only within the boundaries of your competence based
on your education, training, and supervised experience.
• Determine if telepsychology is suitable for a client based on the literature, best
practice, and client preference.
• Update yourself with the current relevant literature and gain access to training and
supervision programs to enhance your skills. Be at your best during each session
because you will never know if the client will have the opportunity to call again.
• Competence in application of technology
• Before starting your online services, make sure you have enough knowledge in
using the online platform you prefer. If your clients are not familiar with your
preferred platform, you can orient them with its features by creating a standard
orientation script you can use for every first session with a client. It is also ideal to
be familiar with more than one platform so you can provide choices to your clients.
• Learn important security features to ensure confidentiality such as privacy settings,
recording options, and encryptions. If necessary, consult technology experts to
augment your knowledge of telecommunication technologies.

2. Uphold ethical practice

• Psychologists conducting telepsychology apply the same ethical principles that are
required when providing face-to-face psychological services. Always refer to the PAP
Code of Ethics for Philippine Psychologists and the Professional Regulatory Board of
Psychology Adoption and Promulgation of the Code of Ethics and Professional Standards
for Psychology Practitioners in the Philippines.
• At all times, do no harm. Always protect your client, yourself, and the integrity of the
profession.
 • Examine the potential risk and benefits of providing telepsychology services. Be aware
of multicultural issues that may arise. Respect all kinds of faith, traditions, ethnicity,
educational background, economic status, abilities, and political views.
• Aside from ethical principles, be cognizant of the moral and legal aspects of providing
telepsychology services. Know the social norm, laws and ordinances in your area, as well
as your client’s.
• If you believe that telepsychology is no longer beneficial or presents a risk to a client’s
emotional or physical well-being, thoroughly discuss these concerns with the client
patient. Appropriately terminate the services with adequate notice, and refer or offer
alternative services to the client.
• Obtain informed consent. An electronic copy of the informed consent form is made
available to your client and its contents discussed thoroughly. A digital means of giving
free and informed consent is provided. This may be done through Email or filling up E-
forms online.
• The informed consent form shall state what data will be stored, how it will be stored
and accessed, the kind of security of the data and who can access, any technology-
related vulnerability to their confidentiality that is incurred by creating and storing
electronic client data, and how long the data will be stored.
• Indicate recording policies. For most practices that may not require actual records
of the sessions, explain that clients are discouraged from recording online therapy
sessions for the protection of their privacy.
• The client is required to provide contact information for emergencies.
• Set clear boundaries between you and the client. Explain the rights and
responsibilities of entering a therapist-client relationship. Make sure to avoid dual
relationships.
• At the start of the online relationship, authenticate the client’s identity by asking for
a valid ID. If there is no access to camera, agree on an identity verification process,
such as a password, at the start of each online counseling session.

3. Develop an efficient system of providing online services

• As professionals tend to work in shared practices, developing clear norms and standards
is ideal. Have clear policies and expectations in the areas of individual roles, specific
services provided, and protocols and procedures.
• Continuous updating, training and supervision is also provided to all team members to
improve competence in practice and application of technology and guarding ethical
standards.
• While personal styles are encouraged, standardized protocols and scripts can ensure
the delivery of quality services. This may include, but not limited to, the following:
introduction of services to the client, starting and ending sessions, responses to
frequently asked questions, responses about and to reactions to the pandemic, protocol
if there is disruption to internet connection, and procedures in making referrals to
another psychologist/professional.
• When online psychological assessment is offered, integrity of the psychometric
properties of the test and assessment procedures must be ensured. As much as
possible, the conditions of administration stated in the test manual or official guidelines
published thereafter are followed. When doing test translations, currently accepted
standards are upheld.
 • Whereas the licensed psychologists are at the forefront of providing direct mental
health services, psychometricians and other mental health advocates who are part of
the professional team have an equally important role. For instance, they may be tasked
to develop and disseminate credible psychoeducational materials that can reach the
greater public in need of information on coping with the pandemic.
• Create a setting that resembles a face-to-face clinic. Choose a room with the best sound
proofing and least prone to distractions (phone ringing, sounds from outside, etc.). Put
a “do not disturb” sign on the door while having a session or explain to your housemates
the importance of maintaining silence while you work. Likewise, ask your client to be in
private room with no distractions during each session. Make sure that both of you have
excellent internet connection to avoid delays.
• Document all your experiences, concerns, challenges and insights as you provide online
services so you can share and possibly consult with peers or supervisors.

4. Be ready to respond to all kinds of emergencies

• As part of the agreement in the consent form, ask for emergency contact for every
client. With the expressed permission of your client, initiate contact with this
emergency contact to establish his/her role in protecting the client in the (unlikely)
event that there is serious and foreseeable harm that may befall the client or others.
• Research on and list down relevant contact information of emergency service providers
(e.g., police, hospital emergency services, etc.) in the client’s vicinity.
• Be familiar with the laws and rules that have bearing on your (online) service provision
in the area of jurisdiction of your client.
• Build a network of other professionals (i.e., psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers,
and other allied professionals) who can effectively serve the needs of your client that
may be beyond your area of expertise.

5. Include self-care in your schedule

• As mental health service providers, recognize your vulnerability to stress and fatigue.
Taking regular breaks and doing self-care activities are essential components of your
regular schedule, and need to be prioritized.
• Acquire enough knowledge on how to stay healthy and protect yourself from the
threats of the pandemic.

6. Anticipate changes in your practice after the pandemic

• This pandemic will significantly change the practice of our profession. Regularly
evaluating your past routines and established practices will enhance your effectiveness
as a mental health service provider. This may entail considering shifting your practice,
either partially or completely, to online services.
• As we gain more experience in doing various types of telepsychology services with
varying clients, plan systematic recording and data gathering processes that can serve
as material for sharing effective strategies and good practices with colleagues and
peers.

Resources:

American Psychological Association (2013). Guidelines for the practice of telepsychology. American Psychologist, 68 (9), 791-800.

PAP Code of Ethics for Philippine Psychologists