Due to the effectiveness of online self-help, various psychology online websites have mushroomed. There are also various psychology online sites offering bogus services while other charges excessive fees. In every business or engagement that one enters into, there are ethical values attached to it. Basically, it is moot to prohibit online mental health therapy. However, it should comply maintain the ethical responsibilities imposed by professionals in order to achieve its moral duty and goal to its clients, society, and to God.
These ethical concerns will set the parameters by which these online mental therapists, counselors and professional should act. It also serves as self-regulation in carrying one’s duty. These ethical concerns includes competency, integrity, professional and scientific responsibility, respect for right and dignity, and social responsibility.
Since mental therapy is a crucial subject, it should be sensitively and painstakingly carried out by licensed professionals. Those offering psychology online services should be competent and experts in carrying out their jobs. Integrity requires that the credentials of therapist offering mental help online passed the professional standards. Apart from that, professional therapist should also be truthful and honest as to their identity to ensure that clients will not be subjected to abuse.
Being responsible professionally and scientifically is required because it is the main foundation of trust. Since communication is done online, the attitude of the therapist should surpass or at least match with the comfort and confidence when therapy is done directly. Their professional expertise and finesse should have the quality deserving of praise.
Respect should also extend to the client’s right and dignity. Privacy and confidentially is an innate right of clients which should be preserved and respected by the mental therapists. Though online communications are quite unsecured, the organization should create a system, such as password protection and encryption, which will protect the privacy and dignity of their clients. Any information divulged by the client should not be disclosed to any peer in the organization unless required for evaluation or any helpful purposes. The organization should also protect its own site from hacking or attacks to ensure that files are protected.
Social responsibility is an essential factor in all organizations. Every business and people has a responsibility to the society. Online mental therapy and psychology online services should be made available for the welfare of the people and its mission should not be against moral, public policy, and public order.