The Ethical Implications of Social Media: Issues and Recommendations For Clinical Practice

Abstract

The Internet and electronic communication technologies have taken the psychological field by storm. From the innovations of new web interventions for easier access to care to the increased ease of client scheduling and communication, these developments have greatly advanced mental health care. However, these advantages are also laced with ethical implications that warrant attention. Without judicious consideration, social media use by psychotherapists can lead to inadvertent self-disclosures to clients that risk damaging the therapeutic alliance, interfering with therapeutic processes, and placing both the client and clinician at risk. A better understanding of the ethical implications of social media use is warranted so that guidelines for appropriate use can be developed and implemented. This article highlights the potential risks associated with social media use by psychotherapists and, in absence of formalized guidelines, offers recommendations for best practices.

Keywords:

• social media
• self-disclosure
• ethics
• professionalism

Correction Statement

Appreciation is expressed to James Overholser, Rebecca Schwartz-Mette, and Bryan Pillai for their support of this paper.This article has been republished with minor changes. These changes do not impact the academic content of the article.