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These guidelines establish appropriate standards for the use of electronic communications
over the Internet to provide on-line counseling services, and should be used only in
conjunction with the latest ACA Code of Ethics & Standards of Practice.
CONFIDENTIALITY
a. Privacy Information.
b. Informational Notices.
c.Client Waiver.
Professional counselors require clients to execute client waiver agreements stating that
the client (i) acknowledges the limitations inherent in ensuring client confidentiality of
information transmitted through on-line counseling and (ii) agrees to waive the client's
privilege of confidentiality with respect to any confidential information transmitted
through on-line counseling that may be accessed by any third party without authorization
of the client and despite the reasonable efforts of the professional counselor to arrange a
secure on-line environment. Professional counselors refer clients to more traditional
methods of counseling and do not provide on-line counseling services if the client is
unable or unwilling to consent to the client waiver. (See B.1.b.)
Professional counselors maintain appropriate procedures for ensuring the safety and
confidentiality of client information acquired through electronic communications,
including but not limited to encryption software; proprietary on-site file servers with fire
walls; saving on-line or e-mail communications to the hard drive or file server computer
systems; creating regular tape or diskette back-up copies; creating hard-copies of all
electronic communications; and the like. Clients are informed about the length of time
for, and method of, preserving session transcripts. Professional counselors warn clients of
the possibility or frequency of technology failures and time delays in transmitting and
receiving information. (See B.4.a., B.4.b.)
b.Counseling Plans.
Professional counselors develop individual on-line counseling plans that are consistent
with both the client’s individual circumstances and the limitations of on-line counseling.
Professional counselors shall specifically take into account the limitations, if any, on the
use of any or all of the following in on-line counseling: initial client appraisal, diagnosis,
and assessment methods employed by the professional counselor. Professional counselors
who determine that on-line counseling is inappropriate for the client should avoid
entering into or immediately terminate the on-line counseling relationship and encourage
the client to continue the counseling relationship through an appropriate alternative
method of counseling. (See A.11.b., A.11.c.)
c.Continuing Coverage.
Professional counselors provide clients with a schedule of times during which the on-line
counseling services will be available, including reasonable anticipated response times,
and provide clients with an alternate means of contacting the professional counselor at
other times, including in the event of emergencies. Professional counselors obtain from,
and provide clients with, alternative means of communication, such as telephone numbers
or pager numbers, for back-up purposes in the event the on-line counseling service is
unavailable for any reason. Professional counselors provide clients with the name of at
least one other professional counselor who will be able to respond to the client in the
event the professional counselor is unable to do so for any extended period of time. (See
A.11.a.)
d.Boundaries of Competence.
Professional counselors provide on-line counseling services only in practice areas within
their expertise and do not provide on-line counseling services to clients located in states
in which professional counselors are not licensed. (See C.2.a., C.2.b.)
Professional counselors must verify that clients are above the age of minority, are
competent to enter into the counseling relationship with a professional counselor, and are
able to give informed consent. In the event clients are minor children, incompetent, or
incapable of giving informed consent, professional counselors must obtain the written
consent of the legal guardian or other authorized legal representative of the client prior to
commencing on-line counseling services to the client.
LEGAL CONSIDERATIONS
Professional counselors confirm that their liability insurance provides coverage for on-
line counseling services, and that the provision of such services is not prohibited by or
otherwise violate any applicable (i) state or local statutes, rules, regulations, or
ordinances; (ii) codes of professional membership organizations and certifying boards;
and/or (iii) codes of state licensing boards.