The relative newness of the use of the Internet for service and product delivery leaves authors of standards at a loss when beginning to create ethical practices on the Internet. This document, like all codes of conduct, will change as information and circumstances not yet foreseen evolve. However, each version of this code of ethics is the current best standard of conduct passed by the NBCC Board of Directors. As with any code, and especially with a code such as this, created for an evolving field of work, NBCC and CCE welcome comments and ideas for further discussion and inclusion.

Further, the development of these WebCounseling standards has been guided by the following principles:

• These standards are intended to address practices which are unique to WebCounseling and WebCounselors.

• These standards are not to duplicate non-Internet-based standards adopted in other codes of ethics.

• Recognizing that significant new technology emerges continuously, these standards should be reviewed frequently.

• WebCounseling ethics cases should be reviewed in light of delivery systems existing at the moment rather than at the time the standards were adopted.

WebCounselors who are not national certified counselors may indicate at their Web site their adherence to these standards, but may not publish these standards in their entirety without written permission of the National Board for Certified Counselors.

The practice of WebCounseling shall be defined as "the practice of professional counseling and information delivery that occurs when client(s) and counselor are in separate or remote locations and utilize electronic means to communicate over the Internet."

In addition to following the NBCC Code of Ethics pertaining to the practice of professional counseling, WebCounselors shall:

1. Review pertinent legal and ethical codes for possible violations emanating from the practice of WebCounseling and supervision.

Liability insurance policies should also be reviewed to determine if the practice of WebCounseling is a covered activity. Local, state, provincial, and national statutes as well as the codes of professional membership organizations, professional certifying bodies and state or provincial licensing boards need to be reviewed. Also, as no definitive answers are known to questions pertaining to whether WebCounseling takes place in the WebCounselor’s location or the WebClient’s location, WebCounselors should consider carefully local customs regarding age of consent and child abuse reporting.

2. Inform WebClients of encryption methods being used to help ensure the security of client/counselor/supervisor communications.

Encryption methods should be used whenever possible. If encryption is not made available to clients, clients must be informed of the potential hazards of unsecured communication on the Internet. Hazards may include authorized or unauthorized monitoring of transmissions and/or records of WebCounseling sessions.

3. Inform clients if, how, and how long session data are being preserved.

Session data may include WebCounselor/WebClient e-mail, test results, audio/video session recordings, session notes, and counselor/supervisor communications. The likelihood of electronic sessions being preserved is greater because of the ease and decreased costs involved in recording. Thus, its potential use in supervision, research, and legal proceedings increases.

4. In situations where it is difficult to verify the identity of WebCounselor or WebClient, take steps to address impostor concerns, such as by using code words, numbers, or graphics.

5. When parent/guardian consent is required to provide WebCounseling to minors, verify the identity of the consenting person.

6. Follow appropriate procedures regarding the release of information for sharing WebClient information with other electronic sources.

Because of the relative ease with which e-mail messages can be forwarded to formal and casual referral sources, WebCounselors must work to ensure the confidentiality of the WebCounseling relationship.

7. Carefully consider the extent of self-disclosure presented to the WebClient and provide rationale for WebCounselor’s level of disclosure.

WebCounselors may wish to ensure that, minimally, the WebClient has the same data available about his/her service provider as would be available if the counseling were to take place face to face (i.e., possibly ethnicity, gender, etc.). Compelling reasons for limiting disclosure should be presented. WebCounselors will remember to protect themselves from unscrupulous users of the Internet by limiting potentially harmful disclosure about self and family.

8. Provide links to Web sites of all appropriate certification bodies and licensure boards to facilitate consumer protection.

9. Contact NBCC/CEE or the WebClient’s state or provincial licensing board to obtain the name of at least one Counselor-On-Call within the WebClient’s geographical region.

WebCounselors who have contacted an individual to determine his or her willingness to serve as a Counselor-On-Call (either in person, over the phone, or via e-mail) should also ensure that the WebClient is provided with local crisis intervention hotline numbers, 911 and similar numbers in the event that the Counselor-On-Call is unavailable.

10. Discuss with WebClients procedures for contacting the WebCounselor when he or she is off-line.

This means explaining exactly how often e-mail messages are to be checked by the WebCounselor.

11. Mention at their Web sites those presenting problems they believe to be inappropriate for WebCounseling.

While no conclusive research has been conducted to date, those topics might include sexual abuse as a primary issue, violent relationships, eating disorders, and psychiatric disorders that involve distortions of reality.

12. Explain to clients the possibility of technology failure.

The WebCounselor gives instructions to WebClients about calling if problems arise, discusses the appropriateness of the client calling collect when the call might be originating from around the world, mentions differences in time zones, and talks about dealing with response delays in sending and receiving e-mail messages.

13. Explain to clients how to cope with potential misunderstandings arising from the lack of visual cues from WebCounselor or WebClient.

For example, suggesting the other person simply say, "Because I couldn’t see your face or hear your tone of voice in your e-mail message, I’m not sure how to interpret that last message."

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Link to Top of Page

Document Links Menu

Table of Contents  -  Introduction  -  Chapter 1  - Chapter 2  - Chapter 3  -  Chapter 4  - Chapter 5 

Glossary - Standards for Ethical Practice of  WebCounseling  - Internet Addresses -  Resources

Computer Literacy Self Survey  - Web Site URLs for Regional RCEPs, CRP-RCEPs and DBTACs

 

Link here to email  Leon Oehlers, MS, CRC - Region 6 RCEP Webmaster to report broken hyperlinks, new URLs, and/or additional information:  loehlers@rcep6.org

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