Section H: Distance Counseling, Technology, And Social Media

Question 1

h.1.a. What do counselors who engage in distance counseling, technology, and/or social media develop knowledge and skills regarding?

Answer 1

related technical, ethical, and legal considerations.

Question 2

h.1.b. Laws and Statutes: What do counselors who engage in the use of distance counseling, technology, and social media within their counseling practice understand?

Answer 2

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

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, what issues are addressed?

Answer 3

• 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;
• the 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
• social media policy

Question 4

H.2.b. Confidentiality maintained by the counselor: What limitations do counselors acknowledge?

Answer 4

Maintaining the confidentiality of electronic records and transmissions. They inform clients that individuals might have authorized or unauthorized access to such records or transmissions.

Question 5

H.2.c. Acknowledgement of limitations: What inherent limitations do counselors inform clients of?

Answer 5

confidentiality when using technology. Counselors urge clients to be aware of authorized and/or unauthorized access to information disclosed using this medium in the counseling process.

Question 6

H.2.d. Security: What should counselors use within their websites and/or technologically based communications?

Answer 6

Current encryption standards. Counselors take reasonable precautions to ensure the confidentiality of information transmitted through any electronic means.

Question 7

H.3. Client verification: How should a counselor who engages in distance counseling, technology, and/or social media verify a client’s identity?

Answer 7

Verification can include, but is not limited to, using code words, numbers, graphics, or other nondescript identifiers.

Question 8

H.4.a. Benefits and limitations: Which technological applications can be useful in counseling?

Answer 8

computer hardware and/or software, telephones and applications, social media and Internet-based applications and other audio and/or video communication, or data storage devices or media.

Question 9

H.4.b. Professional boundaries in distance counseling: What type of relationship do counselors understand the necessity of maintaining with their clients?

Answer 9

Professional. Counselors discuss and establish professional boundaries with clients regarding the appropriate use and/or application of technology and the limitations of its use within the counseling relationship.

Question 10

H.4.c. Technology-Assisted services. When providing technology-assisted services, counselors make reasonable efforts to determine what?

Answer 10

That clients are intellectually, emotionally, physically, linguistically, and functionally capable of using the application and that the application is appropriate for the needs of the client. counselors verify that clients understand the purpose and operation of technology applications and follow up with clients to correct possible misconceptions, discover appropriate use, and assess subsequent steps.

Question 11

H.4.d. Effectiveness of services: When distance counseling services are deemed ineffective by the counselor or client, what do counselors consider?

Answer 11

Face-to-face services. If the counselor is not able to provide face-to-face services the counselor assists the client in identifying appropriate services.

Question 12

H.4.e. Access: When providing technology-assisted services, what do counselors provide?

Answer 12

information to clients regarding reasonable access to pertinent applications.

Question 13

H.4.f. Communication differences in electronic media: What do counselors consider that might affect the counseling process?

Answer 13

Differences between face-to-face and electronic communication. Counselors educate clients on how to prevent and address potential misunderstandings arising from the lack of visual cues and voice intonations when communicating electronically.

Question 14

H.5.a. Records: Counselors maintain electronic records in accordance with what?

Answer 14

Relevant laws and statutes. Counselors inform clients on how records are maintained electronically. THis includes, but is not limited to, the type of encryption and security assigned to the records, and if/for how long archival storage of transaction records is maintained.

Question 15

H.5.b. client rights: Counselors who offer distance counseling services and/or maintain a professional website provide what?

Answer 15

Electronic links to relevant licensure and professional certification boards to protect consumer and client rights and address ethical concerns.

Question 16

H.5.c. Electronic links: Counselors regularly ensure electronic links are what?

Answer 16

working and are professionally appropriate

Question 17

h.5.d. multicultural and disability considerations: Counselors who maintain websites provide accessibility to whom?

Answer 17

Persons with disabilities. they provide translation capabilities for clients who have a different primary language, when feasible. Counselors acknowledge the imperfect nature of such translations and accessibilities.

Question 18

h.6.a. Virtual Professional Presence: In cases where counselors wish to maintain professional and personal presence for social media use, why are separate professional and personal web pages and profiles created?

Answer 18

To clearly distinguish between the two kinds of virtual presence.

Question 19

H.6.b. Social media as part of informed consent: What do counselors clearly explain to clients as part of the informed consent procedure?

Answer 19

The benefits, limitations, and boundaries of the use of social media.

Question 20

H.6.c. Client Virtual Presence: What do counselors do unless given consent to view such information?

Answer 20

Respect the privacy of their clients’ presence on social media.

Question 21

H.6.d. Use of Public Social Media: What do counselors take precautions to avoid disclosing?

Answer 21

confidential information through public social media.