ETHICAL ISSUES IN ONLINE COUNSELING

A. ETHICS CODES AND TECHNOLOGY

• Code of Ethics of the American Mental Health Counselors Association (AMHCA, 2000)
• APA (2002)
• ACA (2005)
• Ethics Codes box: “Technology Applications: American Counseling Association (2005)”

B. EMERGING ISSUES IN ONLINE COUNSELING

• Some of the Current ethical practices of 88 online counselors in their “Ethical Intent Checklist” (Shaw and Shaw 2006)

1. Only one third of the online counselors required an intake procedure and an electronically signed waiver explaining the limits of
confidentiality on the Internet.

2. Less than half of the online counselors required the client to give his or her full name and address.

3. Less than half of the websites provided a statement concerning circumstances when confidentiality must be breached.

4. Only one third of the websites provided a statement that the Internet is not completely secure and that confidentiality could not be
guaranteed.

5. Only half of the websites provided a statement that online counseling is not the same as face-to-face counseling.

• Online counselors lack knowledge about ethics codes and ethical practices. If counseling professionals will not address the ethical issues
of online counseling then online counselors will do counseling without considering the professional boundaries of the field.
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C. ETHICS CODES
• Technology Applications: American Counseling Association (2005)

a. Benefits and Limitations

Counselors should inform clients of the benefits and limitations of using information technology applications in the counseling process
and in business/billing procedures.
b. Technology-assisted Services
When providing technology-assisted services, counselors should verify if the client is capable of using the application intellectually,
emotionally and physically and that the application is appropriate for the needs of the client.
c. Inappropriate Services
If technology-assisted services are deemed inappopriate by one or both parties, then face-to-face counseling session should be
considered.
d. Access
Access to computer applications should be taken into consideration.
e. Laws and Statutes
Counselor should ensure that the use of technology does not violate any law and observe all relevant statutes.
f. Assistance
Counselors seek business, legal, and technical assistance when using technology applications especially when the use of such crosses
state or national boundaries.
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D. ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF ONLINE COUNSELING

• Advantages (Riemersma and Leslie, 1999)

• Benefits to Therapists (Sampson, Kolodinsky, and Greeno, 1997)

• Suggestions for Counselors considering Online Counseling (Ravis, 2007)

• Disadvantages (Freeny, 2001)

E. LEGAL ISSUES AND REGULATION OF ONLINE COUNSELING

F. COMPETENT COUNSELING ONLINE

G. PERSPECTIVE ON ONLINE COUNSELING

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In Relation to ASCA:

A. Technical and Digital Citizenship

• Appropriate selection and use of technology and software applications. Ethical and legal concerns of technological applications is given
attention.

• Appropriate and reasonable measures for maintaining confidentiality.

• Promotion of safe and responsible use of technology.

• Promote the benefits and clarify the limitations.

• Use established and approved means of communications.

• Equal access to technology.

B. Virtual/Distance School Counseling

• Adhere to ethical guidelines of face-to-face counseling.

• Recognize and acknowledge the limitations.

• Implement procedures in both emergency and non-emergency cases.

• Recognize and mitigate the limitation of confidentiality.

• Inform the benefits and limitations.

• Educate clients how to participate in online counseling sessions to avoid misunderstandings.