III Principles of Counseling Intervention

Lesson 3: Technology and Ethics

Synchronous Telehealth

Real-time counseling through video or telephone communication

Asynchronous Telehealth

Communication that does not occur simultaneously, such as secure messaging, email, texting, or client portals

Privacy

A client’s control over personal information and the conditions under which services occur

Security

Technical, administrative, and physical safeguards, used to protect information

Encryption

The process of coding information so it is protected during transmission or storage

Technology informed consent

An ongoing discussion of the technology used, benefits, risks, alternatives, privacy limits, emergency procedures, response times, and technical failures

Part 1 of Confidentiality Checklist

Obtain informed consent for platforms, tools, risk, benefits, alternatives, and emergency limits

Part 2 of Confidentiality Checklist

Use approved secure platforms with appropriate privacy settings

Part 3 of Confidentiality Checklist

Protect access with strong passwords, multi factor authentication, updates, and screen locks

Part 4 of Confidentiality Checklist

Minimize data exposure by collecting and storing only necessary information

Part 5 of Confidentiality Checklist

Control the environment with private rooms, headphones, secure screens, and awareness of listeners

Part 6 of Confidentiality Checklist

Set communication boundaries for texting, email, response times, and crises

Part 7 of Confidentiality Checklist

Document safeguards and incidents, including disruptions and responses

Part 8 of Confidentiality Checklist

Use AI cautiously and never enter identifiable information with authorization and security approval