Technology and Informed Consent: 

As part of the process of establishing informed consent, counselors do the following: 

• Address issues related to the difficulty of maintaining the confidentiality of electronically transmitted communications. 
• Inform clients of all colleagues, supervisors, and employees, such as Informational Technology (IT) administrators, who might have authorized or unauthorized access to electronic transmissions. 
• Urge clients to be aware of all authorized or unauthorized users including family members and fellow employees who have access to any technology clients may use in the counseling process.
• Inform clients of pertinent legal rights and limitations governing the practice of a profession over state lines or international boundaries.  Use encrypted Web sites and e-mail communications to help ensure confidentiality when possible. 
• When the use of encryption is not possible, counselors notify clients of this fact and limit electronic transmissions to general communications that are not client specific.
• Inform clients if and for how long archival storage of transaction records are maintained. 
• Discuss the possibility of technology failure and alternate methods of service delivery. 
• Inform clients of emergency procedures, such as call 911 or a local crisis hotline, when the counselor is not available. 
• Discuss time zone differences, local customs, and cultural or language differences that might impact service delivery. 
• Inform clients when technology-assisted distance counseling services are not covered by insurance.