Video and Poster Sessions from Previous Conferences Discussing Web 2.0 Implications for Therapists
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Using Social Media to Build an Online Community: Learning By Doing
MEDINFO 2010: 13th World Conference on Medical and Health Informatics
R Hsiung, T Wetter, S Adams, T Grandison, D Nagel, K Anthony, R
Nelson, B Anton, S Daviss, J Roth, V Sinisi
Kate Anthony and DeeAnna Nagel Discuss Ethics and Social Media
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Ethical Implications for Therapists Who Work and Socialize in Cyberspace
Poster Presented by DeeAnna Merz Nagel and Kate Anthony
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First International E-Mental Health Summit 2009, Amsterdam
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Dual Relationships: Practitioners discuss with clients the expected boundaries and expectations about forming relationships online. Practitioners inform clients that any requests for “friendship,” business contacts, direct or @replies, blog responses or requests for a blog response within social media sites will be ignored to preserve the integrity of the therapeutic relationship and protect confidentiality. If the client has not been formally informed of these boundaries prior to the practitioner receiving the request, the practitioner will ignore the request via the social media site and explain why in subsequent interaction with the client.
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Crisis Intervention Information: People may surf the internet seeking immediate help. Practitioners display crisis intervention information on the home page. Practitioners understand that people in crisis may visit the website from anywhere in the world. Offering global resources such as Befriender’s International or The Samaritans is the best course of action.
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Therapist as Owner of the Record: Unless otherwise specified through law in the practitioner’s geographic location, the therapist remains the owner of the therapeutic record including all transcripts, notes and emails. The client is informed that posting direct information about the therapist or verbatim information from sessions is prohibited.
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Excerpted from the Ethical Framework for the Use of Technology in Mental Health
©2009 DeeAnna Merz Nagel & Kate Anthony, Online Therapy Institute, Inc.
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TALKING POINTS
Jane is your client. Both of you live and work in the same community. Jane is the director of a local charity. She sends you an invitation to be one of her contacts on LinkedIn.
Marcie is a former client. She was a teenager when you treated her. Several years later she has friended you on Facebook with a private message thanking you for being such a positive influence in her life.
John is a current client who has begun following you on twitter. He has send you a direct message and has also sent you an @reply to one of your tweets. He recently posted a tweet stating what a great therapist you are with a link to your website.
Mary has been your client for over a year. She has a history of childhood abuse and you have encouraged her to write in a journal. You receive an email from her asking to change times for her next appointment. She closed her email with “By the way, the journal writing has been so helpful, I have decided to start a blog. Here’s the link! www.maryrevealsinherblog.com. You open the link to discover that her first blog entry contains emotionally charged and highly graphic information about past childhood sexual abuse she has not previously revealed in therapy.
Kim was your client for over a year. You have not heard from her in at least that long. She was often hostile during sessions and would call between sessions feigning crisis and then apologise for her behavior during the previous session. The reason for termination was due to her move out of the area. Today you do an internet search for your name and you see that Kim has created a website, www.bewareofbadtherapy.com. Your name is on the website’s blacklist with links to excerpts of verbatim chat transcripts from sessions you held with Kim online.
You login to your email first thing in the morning. You have received an email from email address highstakes123@yahoo.com. The email states, ” I am so desperate. I lost my job yesterday and I have not told my wife. I don’t know what to do- I owe huge $$ to this loan shark – I gambled my way into a mess. I just don’t know- I mean I think my family would be better off if I just kill myself. Can you help?”
Talking Points Excerpted from Ethical Dilemmas
©2009 DeeAnna Merz Nagel & Kate Anthony, Online Therapy Institute, Inc.
www.onlinetherapyinstitute.com
info@onlinetherapyinstitute.com
