3 CE's Part 2: 1:00pm-4:00pm

The presentation will address the ACA Code of Ethics standards for the ethical use of social media by professionals and enhance counselors' competence. Counselors need to be mindful of ethical considerations when interacting with clients on social networking sites. Actions such as liking, following, or friending may send unintended messages, and it is vital to reflect on how these actions might be interpreted by an audience, particularly clients. The session will address this emerging issue by discussing ethical codes for behavioral health in virtual interactions, identifying common challenges, and proposing best practices. It will also examine the intricacies involved when therapists and clients share information typically posted on Social Networking Services (SNS) like Facebook and Twitter, and how psychotherapists can appropriately manage online friendships with clients. Objectives: 1. Apply the ACA Code of Ethics to social media use in ethical decision-making when it comes to interacting with clients. 2. List boundary and multiple relationship issues involved in the use of social media. 3. Aspects to include on Social media policies to create digital boundaries for Mental Health Professionals. 4. Identify at least four factors related to best practices for answering, addressing, and interacting with patients on social media.