A practitioners’ use of digital technology has become enormously complex. Therapists are confronted with what to do about managing their online presence whether or not they are actively using social media. In addition, therapists face challenges in managing confidentiality and privacy issues, personal disclosure, dual relationships, and documentation of electronic contact, as well as multiple issues related to clinicians’ use of the Internet, email, or texting to provide therapy. Our speaker addresses some of the ethical and legal ramifications of these challenges.

Format: Asynchronous, distance learning. Non-interactive. Recorded audio with transcript

This course meets the requirement for the risk management discount for the American Professional Agency.

You can access the audio to this interview via your computer’s MP3 player and/or read the text of the interview.

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Page last modified or reviewed by athealth.com on Jun 11, 2025.

Subject Matter Expert:

Frederic G. Reamer, PhD, is professor in the graduate program of the School of Social Work, Rhode Island College, where he has been on the faculty since 1983. Dr. Reamer has conducted extensive research on professional ethics and has been involved in several national research projects. He has lectured extensively, nationally and internationally, on the subject of professional ethics and professional malpractice and liability. He chaired the national task force that wrote the current Code of Ethics adopted by the National Association of Social Workers.

Dr. Reamer currently chairs an international task force, sponsored by the Association of Social Work Boards, that is developing model regulatory standards governing social workers' use of digital and other technology.

He is the author of many books on professional ethics, including Social Work Values and Ethics; Boundary Issues and Dual Relationships in the Human Services; and Ethical Standards in Social Work. Dr. Reamer has authored chapters on professional ethics in the Encyclopedia of Bioethics, Encyclopedia of Global Bioethics, Encyclopedia of Social Work, Encyclopedia of Primary Prevention and Health Promotion, and the Encyclopedia of Applied Ethics. His newest book is Risk Management in Social Work--Preventing Professional Malpractice, Liability and Disciplinary Action.

In addition, he has been an essayist on National Public Radio's Morning Edition (This I Believe series) and a commentator on National Public Radio's All Things Considered. Since 2007, Dr. Reamer has been the host and producer of the National Public Radio weekly series, This I Believe-Rhode Island, sponsored by NPR and Rhode Island Public Radio.

Interviewer:

Barbara Alexander, LCSW, BCD, is a graduate of the Smith College School for Social Work and the Child and Adolescent Psychotherapy Program of the Chicago Institute for Psychoanalysis. After working for 13 years in child psychiatric settings and 30 years in private practice, she is now founder and president of On Good Authority, and an expert interviewer.

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