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APA STATEMENT ON SERVICES BY TELEPHONE, TELECONFERENCING,
AND INTERNET
A statement by the Ethics Committee of the
American Psychological Association
The American Psychological Association's Ethics Committee issued
the following statement on November 5, 1997, based on its 1995 statement
on the same topic.
The Ethics Committee can only address the relevance of and enforce
the "Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct" and
cannot say whether there may be other APA Guidelines that might
provide guidance. The Ethics Code is not specific with regard to
telephone therapy or teleconferencing or any electronically provided
services as such and has no rules prohibiting such services. Complaints
regarding such matters would be addressed on a case by case basis.
Delivery of services by such media as telephone,
teleconferencing and internet is a rapidly evolving
area. This will be the subject of APA task forces and
will be considered in future revision of the Ethics
Code. Until such time as a more definitive judgment is
available, the Ethics Committee recommends that
psychologists follow Standard 1.04c, Boundaries of
Competence, which indicates that "In those emerging
areas in which generally recognized standards for pre-
paratory training do not yet exist, psychologists
nevertheless take reasonable steps to ensure the
competence of their work and to protect patients,
clients, students, research participants, and others
from harm." Other relevant standards include
Assessment (Standards 2.01 -2.10), Therapy (4.01 -
4.09, especially 4.01 Structuring the Relationship and
4.02 Informed Consent to Therapy), and Confidentiality
(5.01 - 5.11). Within the General Standards section,
standards with particular relevance are 1.03,
Professional and Scientific Relationship; 1.04 (a, b,
and c), Boundaries of Competence; 1.06, Basis for
Scientific and Professional Judgments; 1.07a,
Describing the Nature and Results of Psychological
Services; 1.14, Avoiding Harm; and 1.25, Fees and
Financial Arrangements. Standards under Advertising,
particularly 3.01 - 3.03 are also relevant.
Psychologists considering such services must review the
characteristics of the services, the service delivery
method, and the provisions for confidentiality.
Psychologists must then consider the relevant ethical
standards and other requirements, such as licensure
board rules.
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