Introduction
Use of internet and electronic technology has contributed to psychology through creating communication and relation platforms for psychologist and their customers. It is a mediating medium whereby the psychologists are connected to their clients through online mechanisms. Web sites, Web-based advertising, professional networking and electronic data storage are technology roles that are applied in the psychology practice. Furthermore, psychologists’ use technology in research and innovations. This helps in gathering more information relating to online therapeutic intervention and internet-based treatments. The new technology contributes new opportunities in the psychology practice and profession and it results is double edged. There are positive and admirable results that have contributed to the wellbeing of psychology discipline while technology also causes some problem within the profession. Therefore, the study seeks to elaborate on the application of the internet and other social media platforms and in collaboration of psychologists’ code of ethics principles.
Discussing my position
In appreciating the technology, internet and electronic social media has helped in improving the psychological practices. The technology has contributed to easier, effective and efficient connection between client and specialist. Online services such as Internet-based treatment have indicated positive development in psychology. Furthermore, research and innovation for the psychologist learners have improved the psychological practices. Therefore, I support the use of internet and electronic social media in ensuring development and improvement in psychological practices.
The Internet and electronic media technology in psychologist practice
Internet technology has provided online services such as accessibility of vital information regarding the psychologist profiles. The personal information accessibility of the psychologists’ profiles helps in connecting clients to the right services and online treatment process. The issues that are very helpful in the online systems is having a connection between the psychologist and clients and deliberating on the issues regarding treatment and therapeutic intervention (Nicholson, 2011). Through the internet connectivity, clients seek more information regarding the psychologists such as testimonies from other clients, mode of treatment and profile qualifications. This information helps the client in making an informed decision in planning to meet the psychologist or referring him or her to friends or relatives.
Electronic media technology provides platforms for social and professional networking and electronic data storage. These platforms are founded on the information technology whereby the psychologist and clients network and discuss issues relating to their lives and psychology profession (Roberts, 2011 ). The stakeholders tend to seek appropriate mechanisms to solve the problems they face through brainstorming on their professional lines. This helps in seeking assistance or recommendation on the complex problem facing the entire profession. The psychologists have professional networking platform that guides them on issues that are relevant during their practice (Laura, 2010). It helps in accommodating the new professionals joining the psychologist industry after going an extensive training in different colleges. The professional networking platform helps in airing issues that require attention to all psychologists in the system and hence deliberating on the way forward. Furthermore, social networking can consist psychologist professionals and their clients whereby direct response are provided to clients queries and guiding them on appropriate actions.
The electronic data storage system is essential whereby the psychologist saves data of their clients. The system is essential as it provides the psychologist with a file for every client depending on their treatment and advice provided. Psychologist uses the electronic data storage system in recognizing the clients in every scheduled meeting and mode of treatment provided (Andersson, 2016). The clients using electronic technology through online services get instant response from their psychologist through chatting or emailing prescriptions. Therefore, the electronic data storage provides a standard platform whereby the psychologist identifies their clients easily and acting upon the query instantly.
Web-based advertising and communication have provided a wider perspective to the psychology profession entry especially the new psychologist. The clients are provided with more information regarding the basic psychological intervention and how they can easily access psychologists (Nicholas, 2015). The advertising bit of the psychology in the internet-based platform is to sensitize clients on the services provided in different psychological clinics. These clinics dedicate resources such as time in online communication with the clients and helping in solving simple issues. They also advise the clients on the best options to take and more importantly to schedule for their visit. The online therapeutic intervention and Internet-based treatments are conducted after communicating with clients and understanding their positions (Davis, 2014). Therefore, it is essential for the psychologists to develop an appropriate mechanism to venture in the profession through using web-based advertisement and communication with clients.
The approach of using the internet and online services by psychologists would help in connecting to all needy clients. The process of offering online treatment and prescription would ensure the travel costs and consultation fee to drop dramatically. Internet connectivity technology has contributed to the improvement of the psychology practice through enhancing data storage, atomizing schedules and information gathering during research. The psychologists and clients use the internet platform in communication on the issues relating to treatment.
Internet technology has contributed to innovation and research in psychology discipline. The psychology researchers and students have extensively used the internet in seeking appropriate information that helps in equipping them with advanced knowledge. These knowledge and skills come from study cases that are provided on the internet regarding different situations experienced in different regions (Powers, 2010). Psychology has been progressing through connecting to worldwide developments that are associated with the profession and hence laying a good foundation to the future psychologists. Internet technology connects psychology tutors with students pursuing psychology and hence guiding them regarding the profession (Bratt, 2010). This is through social and profession networking whereby the students tend to learn more from their mentors.
Psychology Code of Ethics on Internet and Electronics Social Media Technology
The ethical practice of psychology on technology is paramount, and all players are supposed to observe the code of ethics principles. Internet and electronic social media technology requires psychology professionals to distinguish their personal and professional boundaries. This helps in defining the relationship that exists between the personal issues and professional matters (Dever, Hunter, Hadjistavropoulos, & Koocher, 2010). Social media such as Facebook, tweeter or MySpace among others consist of all people. Psychologists are supposed to understand and distinguish the clients from other people regarding communication, privacy, and confidentiality.
Privacy protection and confidentiality build the psychology professional. Psychologists are supposed to enhance privacy protection of clients’ information and data records. The electronic mode of data storage should be enhanced to ensure privacy. The data storage methods include magnetic tape, use o fiche or microfilm and floppy disks (Greene & Goodrich-Dunn, 2014). These methods store information in a manner that is easily accessible and transportable. The approach by the code of ethics is to ensure this information provided to psychologist remain private and undisclosed to the third party. The psychologists are supposed to take appropriate measures to ensure the privacy protection is achieved as one of the code of ethics principle (Australian Psychological Society, 2010).
Confidentiality enables the clients to trust the psychologist and hence taking treatment positively as recommended. Psychologists are at the receiving end and hence should take appropriate mechanism to ensure confidential information remain between them with clients. Third parties are not supposed to be involved in the process treatment. The use of the web-based advertising, psychologists is supposed to provide general information regarding their profile and case studies (Marinoff, 2002). This would help in attracting more clients and winning their confidence. Professionalism should apply while dealing with clients and hence refraining from releasing other client's issues and information. According to American Psychology Association, the ethical principles are articulated on how psychologists are supposed to conduct their professionalism (Kitchener, 2000). These codes and guidelines provide a broader perspective whereby technology should incorporate to enhance easier services. Technologies enhance the professionalism in the psychology hence should be used positively to attract more clients worldwide.
The ethical principles guiding psychological practice are supposed to meet legal requirement covering research ethics. This includes the use of the internet and electronic technology in providing psychology practices (Allan, 2010). Psychologists are mandated to provide professional guidelines to their clients and maintaining high standards of psychology ethics in their practices. This is in line with the provision of online treatment whereby the specialist meets clients from all over the world. The information and data history of the clients are supposed to remain protected and confidential (Postholm & Madsen, 2006). Therefore, psychologists are supposed to enhance and maintain these ethics principles to thrive in the psychology.
Other issues that are supposed to be considered during the psychology practice is respecting the client’s dignity and integrity. All the players in the internet psychology treatment and use of electronic social media should appreciate technology through conducting their business positively (Gackenbach, 2007). This would contribute to having a good relationship with the professionals and their clients and having prolonged treatment that achieves the set objectives and goals.
Conclusion
Psychology profession deals with the clients’ inner feeling, emotion and soul healing and hence requires high trained and principled personnel. Technology has introduced new strategy of providing these services easily using online and social media connections. The Internet-delivered treatments are a technology that provides an online treatment platform that is done through email and protected websites. Secure online treatment platform helps the client to access treatment and to communicate with psychologists, researchers, and clinicians. The encrypted systems that have high standard authentication login procedure are essential in protecting clients’ information, privacy, and confidentiality. The psychologists are supposed to ensure all the loopholes are cleared with the aim of protecting their clients’ information and data.
It is recommended to use the guided internet treatment whereby the involvement of therapists is accommodated, as it is effective and efficient. The automated program helps in setting reminders to the clients’ timetable whereby notifications are sent in their emails. The automated system would also schedule clients depending on the availability of the psychologist on when they will continue with the Internet-based treatment. Therefore, it is efficient and effective as a psychologist is in a position of getting data and information concerning the client in advance through alerts and notification sent by the system in their email prior treatment program.
References
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