Social media

Question 1

Ethics implications of providing online counseling

Answer 1

• The world is changing…conisder the following:
• How to secure accurate client identity
• How to deal with confidential information
• How to develop adequate security measures
• How to intervene and provide support to a client who is a
  danger to him/herself or others: Facebook and delayed
  streaming in the wake of NZ
• How to handle licensing as counselors will be practicing across
  state and national borders

Question 2

Knowledge and legal considerations

Answer 2

• H.1.a. Knowledge and Competency: Counselors who engage in the use of
  distance counseling, technology, and/ or social media develop knowledge
  and skills regarding related technical, ethical, and legal considerations
  (e.g., special certi cations, additional course work).
• H.1.b. Laws and Statutes: Counselors who engage in the use of distance
  counseling, technology, and social media within their counseling practice
  understand that they may be subject to laws and regulations of both the
  counselor’s practicing location and the client’s place of residence.
  Counselors ensure that their clients are aware of pertinent legal rights
  and limitations governing the practice of counseling across state lines or
  international boundaries.

Question 3

Informed consent and security

Answer 3

• H.2.a. Informed Consent and Disclosure “ . . . In addition to the usual and customary protocol of informed consent
  between counselor and client for face-to-face counseling, the following issues, unique to the use of distance counseling,
  technology, and/ or social media, are addressed in the informed consent process:
• distance counseling credentials,
• physical location of practice, and contact information;
• risks and benefits of engaging in the use of distance counseling, technology, and/or social media;
• possibility of technology failure and alternate methods of service delivery;
• anticipated response time;
• emergency procedures to follow when the counselor is not available;
• time zone differences;
• cultural and/or language differences that may affect delivery of services;
• possible denial of insurance benefits; and
• social media policy”
• H.2.b. Confidentiality Maintained by the Counselor & H.2.c. Acknowledgment of Limitations

Question 4

H.3 Client Verification

Answer 4

• “Counselors who engage in the use of distance counseling,
  technology, and/ or social media to interact with clients take
  steps to verify the client’s identity at the beginning and
  throughout the therapeutic process. Verification can include,
  but is not limited to, using code words, numbers, graphics, or
  other nondescript identifiers (ACA, 2014).

Question 5

H.4 distance counseling relationships

Answer 5

• H.4.a. Benefits and Limitations
• H.4.b. Professional Boundaries in Distance Counseling
• H.4.c. Technology-Assisted Services
• H.4.d. Effectiveness of Services
• H.4.e. Access
• H.4.f. Communication Differences in Electronic Media

Question 6

H.5 records and web maintenance

Answer 6

• H.5.a. Records
• H.5.b. Client Rights
• H.5.c. Electronic Links
• H.5.d. Multicultural and Disability Considerations

*https://www.therapysites.com/therapists/

Question 7

The law and online practice

Answer 7

• What does the Kaplan et al. (2011) article say about the legal
  implications of online practice?
• Is there a current law in South Dakota regarding online
  practice?
• Does it matter where your online client lives?

Question 8

Ethical implications of social media and counseling

Answer 8

• Think before you Tweet, Friend, or Blog:
• Breach of confidentiality
• Boundary violations

Question 9

Texting, instant messaging, e-mail

Answer 9

• How do we know our client is on the other end?
• Expectation of immediacy

Question 10

• “H.6.a.Virtual Professional Presence:” In cases where counselors wish
  to maintain a professional and personal presence for social media use,
  separate professional and personal web pages and profiles are created
  to clearly distinguish between the two kinds of virtual presence.
• “H.6.b. Social Media as Part of Informed Consent:” Counselors clearly
  explain to their clients, as part of the informed consent procedure, the
  benefits, limitations, and boundaries of the use of social media.

Question 11

• H.6.c. Client Virtual Presence: counselors respect the privacy of
  their clients’ presence on social media unless given consent
  to view such information.
• H.6.d. Use of Public: Social Media Counselors take
  precautions to avoid disclosing confidential information
  through public social media” (ACA, 2014).
• SCs and facebook pages

Question 12

• Informed consent and Social Media: You do not engage in social
  media exchanges with clients.
• Informed consent and Texting, Instant Messaging and E-mail:
  You will not respond to sensitive material or emergencies via
  email, text, or message.
• Separate your private and public personas: Personal safety
• Durability of postings
• Develop rules for group members regarding social media
• Consider the ethical implications of client online searches

Question 13

ACA position of listservs

Answer 13

• Due to the potential violation of both the ACA Code of Ethics and federal
  (HIPAA) law, case consultation is not allowed on ACA Connect. It is not
  permissible to present aspects of a case on a counseling listserv or online
  forum even if the client’s name is not given. Information shared by a
  client and clinical impressions must be afforded the same level of
  confidentiality as the name of the client. Describing a client’s presenting
  problem, diagnosis, or clinical treatment approach through listservs or
  online forums - even if the client’s name is not given - is a violation of
  confidentiality. It is perfectly fine to talk about issues (e.g. asking, “Does
  anyone have any resources on eating disorders in male wrestlers?” or,
  “Does anyone have a referral to a specialist in PTSD in the Boston area?”),
  but please ensure that you phrase your post in a manner that does not
  describe an actual client.