Ethical Concerns
Years ago, clients and psychologist have interacted face-to-face. This was the setting for many years, but with technology advancing, we can now communicate with someone hundreds of miles away. Individuals are concerned that with the new technology, they are not going to get the treatment like they did with the traditional face-to-face session (Koocher, 2007). There are some positive aspects to telepsychology and there are some negatives. There are studies that illustrate the positive and negatives, such as Twenty-First Century Ethical Challenges for Psychology (Koocher, 2007). Clients are concerned about the psychologist themselves; they want to make sure they are actually connected to a psychologist and not an imposter. They also want to make sure their information is not intercepted by a third party (Koocher, 2007). With that said, there are several programs that make sure a client’s information is not being spied on or fallen into the hands of a criminal.
Since everything is heading into the digital world, psychologists are now being able to perform their work many miles away from their client (Koocher, 2007). They can conduct their work from the telephone, chat rooms, email, and video programs. Clients will have to agree to the terms of receiving their information in the digital world. Many individuals are concerned about the security, since there are people out there that can hack digital equipment and steal someone’s valuable information (Koocher, 2007).
Psychologist want to make sure their clients are receiving their treatment while staying safe from harm (Koocher, 2007). Also, others studies illustrated that the alliance between the client and provider are not as strong as traditional face-to-face setting. There is also a concern about the person on the other end of the line. Clients are always concerned if the person on the other line of the phone is who they claim to be and not an imposter. While searching on the internet for different psychologist and their businesses, there are over four million different results, so it is hard for a client to know which ones are valid and which ones are there to steal someone’s information (Koocher, 2007). With the internet, individuals are extremely cautious when it comes to confidentiality. It is easy for a person to get another person’s information.
While the advancement of technology, it makes it easier for the psychologist and the client to stay in touch, such as if the individual is out of town, their psychologist is only a call away. It is also cheaper from the traditional setting (Koocher, 2007). There have been studies that show that telepsychology is very effective. It is more convenient for the client and they can stay at home where they are comfortable. There are different programs that protect the clients; TEMPEST, ECHELON, and Carnivore. TEMPEST is to watch people from intruders who are trying to spy or snoop on other individuals (Koocher, 2007, pg. 377). Carnivore is a program that looks over emails of suspected criminals, terrorist, and everyone else, which helps to prevent harm inflicted on the victim. ECHELON is a spy system by the National Security Agency, which can look at individual’s phone calls, e-mails, faxes, and text messages (Koocher, 2007). The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the National Security Agency have also improved their technology to protect citizens from harm in the digital world. With these programs, the client is more comfortable to engage in their session digitally.
There are positives and negatives about telepyschology. Clients are concerned with their information being intercepted by a third party, selecting a wrong website on the internet, if their psychologist is who they say they are, and wanting to make sure they are getting the treatment they need (Koocher, 2007). These are all in back of the client’s head when they are engaging in their session with their provider. On the other hand, there are several programs that protect the client’s information, the client can stay at home where they are comfortable, it is cheaper, and the psychologist can have more clients. Many studies show the negatives and positives of telepsychology with the development of technology (Koocher, 2007). Technology is always going to be advancing and security will follow its footsteps.
Since everything is heading into the digital world, psychologists are now being able to perform their work many miles away from their client (Koocher, 2007). They can conduct their work from the telephone, chat rooms, email, and video programs. Clients will have to agree to the terms of receiving their information in the digital world. Many individuals are concerned about the security, since there are people out there that can hack digital equipment and steal someone’s valuable information (Koocher, 2007).
Psychologist want to make sure their clients are receiving their treatment while staying safe from harm (Koocher, 2007). Also, others studies illustrated that the alliance between the client and provider are not as strong as traditional face-to-face setting. There is also a concern about the person on the other end of the line. Clients are always concerned if the person on the other line of the phone is who they claim to be and not an imposter. While searching on the internet for different psychologist and their businesses, there are over four million different results, so it is hard for a client to know which ones are valid and which ones are there to steal someone’s information (Koocher, 2007). With the internet, individuals are extremely cautious when it comes to confidentiality. It is easy for a person to get another person’s information.
While the advancement of technology, it makes it easier for the psychologist and the client to stay in touch, such as if the individual is out of town, their psychologist is only a call away. It is also cheaper from the traditional setting (Koocher, 2007). There have been studies that show that telepsychology is very effective. It is more convenient for the client and they can stay at home where they are comfortable. There are different programs that protect the clients; TEMPEST, ECHELON, and Carnivore. TEMPEST is to watch people from intruders who are trying to spy or snoop on other individuals (Koocher, 2007, pg. 377). Carnivore is a program that looks over emails of suspected criminals, terrorist, and everyone else, which helps to prevent harm inflicted on the victim. ECHELON is a spy system by the National Security Agency, which can look at individual’s phone calls, e-mails, faxes, and text messages (Koocher, 2007). The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the National Security Agency have also improved their technology to protect citizens from harm in the digital world. With these programs, the client is more comfortable to engage in their session digitally.
There are positives and negatives about telepyschology. Clients are concerned with their information being intercepted by a third party, selecting a wrong website on the internet, if their psychologist is who they say they are, and wanting to make sure they are getting the treatment they need (Koocher, 2007). These are all in back of the client’s head when they are engaging in their session with their provider. On the other hand, there are several programs that protect the client’s information, the client can stay at home where they are comfortable, it is cheaper, and the psychologist can have more clients. Many studies show the negatives and positives of telepsychology with the development of technology (Koocher, 2007). Technology is always going to be advancing and security will follow its footsteps.