Ethics and Social Media
$29.00
Intermediate
Online
Course Abstract
Ethics and Social Media is a 2-hour online continuing education (CE) course that examines the use of Social Networking Services (SNS) on both our personal and professional lives.
Is it useful or appropriate (or ethical or therapeutic) for a therapist and a client to share the kinds of information that are routinely posted on SNS like Facebook, Twitter, and others? How are therapists to handle “Friending” requests from clients? What are the threats to confidentiality and therapeutic boundaries that are posed by the use of social media sites, texts, or tweets in therapist-client communication?
The purpose of this course is to offer therapists the opportunity to examine their practices in regard to the use of social media services in their professional relationships and communications. Included are ethics topics such as privacy and confidentiality, boundaries and multiple relationships, competence, the phenomenon of friending, informed consent, and record keeping. A final section offers recommendations and resources for the ethical use of social media and the development of a practice social media policy.
Course #21-34 | 2019 | 43 pages | 15 posttest questions
Learning Objectives
- Identify threats to privacy and confidentiality involved in the use of social media
- List boundary and multiple relationship issues involved in the use of social media
- Discuss competence issues involved in the use of social media
- Describe the privacy and boundary issues that can arise in the practice of Facebook friend requests
- List social media issues that should be included in the informed consent process
- Describe the record-keeping challenges posed by the use of social media
Course Directions
This online course provides instant access to the course materials (PDF download) and CE test. The course is text-based (reading) and the CE test is open-book (you can print the test to mark your answers on it while reading the course document).
Successful completion of this course involves passing an online test (80% required, 3 chances to take) and we ask that you also complete a brief course evaluation.
About the Author(s)
CE Information
Counseling
Professional Development Resources (PDR) has been approved by the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 5590. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. PDR is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.
Professional Development Resources is CE Broker compliant (#50-1635 - all courses are reported within two business days of completion). Professional Development Resources, Inc. is recognized by the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed mental health counselors (#MHC-0135 - Note: New York counselors will receive 2 continuing education credits for completing this self-study course).
Marriage and Family Therapy
Professional Development Resources is approved by the American Psychological Association (APA) to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. Professional Development Resources maintains responsibility for this program and its content. Professional Development Resources is also approved by the National Board of Certified Counselors (NBCC ACEP #5590); the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB #1046, ACE Program); the New York State Education Department's State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed marriage and family therapists (#MFT-0100 - Note: New York MFTs will receive 2 continuing education credit(s) for completing this self-study course); the Texas Board of Examiners of Marriage and Family Therapists (#114); and is CE Broker compliant (#50-1635 - all courses are reported within two business days of completion).
Nutrition and Dietetics
Professional Development Resources is a CPE Accredited Provider with the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR #PR001). CPE accreditation does not constitute endorsement by CDR of provider programs or materials. Feedback for this activity can be sent directly to CDR. Professional Development Resources is also a provider with the Florida Council of Dietetics and Nutrition (#50-1635) and is CE Broker compliant (all courses are reported within one week of completion).
Occupational Therapy
Professional Development Resources is an AOTA Approved Provider of professional development. Course provider ID# 3159. This distance learning-independent course is offered at 0.2 CEUs, intermediate level, Professional Issues]. The assignment of AOTA CEUs does not imply endorsement of specific course content, products, or clinical procedures by AOTA.
Professional Development Resources is CE Broker compliant (#50-1635 - all courses are reported within two business days of completion).
Psychology
Professional Development Resources is approved by the American Psychological Association (APA) to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. Professional Development Resources maintains responsibility for this program and its content.
Professional Development Resources is CE Broker compliant (#50-1635 - all courses are reported within two business days of completion). Professional Development Resources, Inc. is recognized by the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Psychology as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed psychologists (#PSY-0145).
School Psychology
Professional Development Resources is approved by the American Psychological Association (APA) to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. Professional Development Resources maintains responsibility for this program and its content.
Professional Development Resources is CE Broker compliant (#50-1635 - all courses are reported within two business days of completion). Professional Development Resources, Inc. is recognized by the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Psychology as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed psychologists (#PSY-0145).
Social Work
Professional Development Resources, #1046, is approved as an ACE provider to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. ACE provider approval period: 6/12/2022 - 6/12/2025. Social workers completing this course receive 2 ethics continuing education credits.
Professional Development Resources is CE Broker compliant (#50-1635 - all courses are reported within two business days of completion). Professional Development Resources, Inc. is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers (#SW-0664 - Note: New York social workers will receive 2 continuing education credit(s) for completing this self-study course). Professional Development Resources is also approved by the Texas State Board of Social Worker Examiners (#5678).
Teaching
Professional Development Resources is approved by the American Psychological Association (APA) to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. Professional Development Resources maintains responsibility for all programs and content. Professional Development Resources is also approved by the National Board of Certified Counselors (NBCC ACEP #5590); the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB Provider #1046, ACE Program); the Continuing Education Board of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA Provider #AAUM); the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA Provider #3159); the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR Prior Approval Program); the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Psychology as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed psychologists (#PSY-0145), State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed mental health counselors (#MHC-0135) and marriage and family therapists (#MFT-0100), and the State Board for Social Workers as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers (#SW-0664); the Texas Board of Examiners of Marriage and Family Therapists (#114) and State Board of Social Worker Examiners (#5678); and is CE Broker compliant (#50-1635 - all courses are reported within two business days of completion).
Customer Testimonials
Great information that is much needed for counselors today. Learning to navigate social media with ethics and confidentiality is highly necessary.
I learned a whole lot from this course. Every therapist should be required to take such a course.
Always good getting updates on social media!
An excellent course. I found it informative and thought provoking.
This was a comprehensive look at the role of social media and technology in a therapeutic relationship.
More Testimonials
Thank you for another great course.
Helped me begin thinking about very important ethical considerations which were not part of my education.
Very enlightening. It definitely made me think about my competencies related to the digital age.
As an “immigrant “ to social media, I read this informative and important with care. It is important to what I do presently, supervising interns, to share these considerations which did not exist when I was earning my doctorate. It did take me much more time than the two hours of CEU’s granted. Maybe those of us over age 45 should be given a bonus hour or two, ????
Good course highlighting the difficulties of navigating social media with clientele.
This was very helpful, informative and relevant to the issues that surround social media and ethics. I found it to be very useful information.
This course was definitely food for thought!
The resources links were very helpful.
I am so glad I chose this course. It highlighted all that I didn't even know were problems with social media use. I will be more careful about documenting and refine my Informed Consent statement.
Very timely and very up-to-date information!
Great course with alot of insight and information.
Interesting course, informative and important for the age of social media and the client-patient relationship.
Easy flow with the reading material.
Excellent and important course, as the impact of social media upon our profession is ever evolving and changing, and challenging for both the newer and more seasoned therapist. Very helpful that resources for having one's own social media policy are provided. Thank you for offering this timely course.
Glad I this course was available given the issues related to the need for social distancing.
As a digital immigrant, I found this course quite helpful and also reminded me how much I don't know about social media, etc. Thank you.
Very timely and helpful in this COVID-19 season.
Great information for us digital immigrants!!
Thank you. The reading material was informative, included many good examples. Well written to keep the reader interested and engaged.
I understood the basics of this information yet appreciated the increased depth of my knowledge gained via this course.
This was a great course. I honestly didn't think I'd learn as much as I did from it. Thank you!
Social Media therapy is a minefield - thank you for this mine detector.
I appreciated specific information about confidentiality and dual relationships. It was important to be reminded of things I basically know as a long time practicing clinician, yet it was a reminder and refresher which always helps.
Thank you. Well done. Nice discussion. Particularly enjoyed the humor at the end, suggesting that we like you on Facebook.
This was a pertinent and very informative course. Well organized and presented.
Excellent course, I learned a lot. Test was very straight forward.
This course is going to be very helpful, especially the references, as I will be presenting a workshop later this year on internet ethics
Well written and presented. I learned much and enjoyed it.
Thanks. Gave me much to consider as I rewrite my Informed Consent Form, and my use of social media.
Have never used PDR teaching modules previously and very happy with the level of content within this module in particular.
Wow! So many details that need to be considered. Pretty fascinating and definitely relevant!
The course was thorough, relevant and easy to understand. Very insightful content.
I learned SOOOOOOO much!! I am a digital immigrant! Working to improve that now!
Very good course as these are the huge concerns in 2021!
The subject matter was addressed very comprehensively, while acknowledging limitations in scope and providing further useful resources.
Great course. Timely and well-written, organized for clear understanding and practical application. I love that the test was clear and served as a review. Love these authors. They are always my favorite for all these reasons and... their material is interesting to read and think about. Grateful.
Great course...very insightful!
A well designed course that was practical, thorough and quite interesting. Thanks!
I thought it was a well presented resource and enjoyed it very much
GREAT course content!
I learned that this issue is much more complicated than I realized.
Excellent training opportunity and listing of resources is most helpful.
It was exceptionally helpful in beginning to think about Social Networking and ethical issues for both the client and the clinician. Very helpful. Thank you.
Thorough! Excellent references.
I appreciated this and learned far more than I thought I would. Great course and I strongly recommend it.
This was a great course. I hope to do more training with you all in the future.
I really enjoyed this course. I found the information very relevant and am glad to hear a therapist talking about it as it's much needed guidance in our field.
I enjoyed this comprehensive, well written and researched course. Fabulous resource for further self-education too!
I learned so much!
Thank you for an ethics course on a very high risk area, Social Media. This course is helpful on both a personal and professional level.
In this era of increased social media activity for everyone, the guidelines suggested in this course were welcome and important for psychologists.
Thank you for offering the variety of topics listed in PDR. I especially appreciate the ability to print and refer back to the course as I implement Ethics and Social Media in my own practice.
This was one of my favorite ethics courses due to the significant relevance of social media in ours and our clients' lives. During the course, I checked my own facebook privacy settings and was shocked to see how much others could see. I loved learning about all the nuances especially since this wasn't taught in grad school!
