Page 28 - AASP Summer 2014 Newsletter

practitioners have been noted to include: (a) With which of the following ethical issues psychology professionals will employ them.

organizational or record-keeping; (b) holding should Joe be concerned?
Nevertheless, despite the numerous potential

sessions at a distance (i.e., via cell phone, beneits of employing social media into our
a. Competence
video conferencing) with clients; and (c) work, it is the responsibility of the AASP

b. Conidentiality
assisting clients in skill development (Watson member to decide if the potential beneits

& Halbrook, 2014). Social media sites, such as c. Multiple relationships
outweigh the potential ethical and legal risks

Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn, are being used associated with using such tools.

by sport and exercise psychology practitioners
References:
to schedule appointments, conduct quick Among many ethical risks, Standard 26 of the

AASP Ethics Code informs us that all three are
check-ins with clients, and monitor clients Association of Applied Sport Psychology (n.d.) Ethics Code:
potentially problematic in this case. As such, it
or students. While technology has helped AASP ethical principles and standards. Retrieved from http://
is essential that the practitioner be competent
advance the ield of sport and exercise www.appliedsportpsych.org/about/ethics/ethics-code/
in the form of technology being used, know
psychology by making communication and
Duggan, M., & Smith, A. (2013). Pew Internet: Social media
delivery of services between practitioner and how to trouble-shoot potential technological
update 2013. Retrieved from http://www.pewinternet.
client/student convenient and easier, there problems, and understand how to effectively

and ethically implement the technology into org/2013/12/30/social-media-update-2013/
are ethical issues that accompany technology
therapeutic practice (Watson & Halbrook,
usage that AASP members must consider.
Koocher, G, & Keith-Spiegel, P. (2008). Psychotherapy part II:
2014). Additionally, it is not always possible
Techniques and controversies. Ethics in psychology and the
to ensure conidentiality with clients when
mental health professions: Standards and cases (3rd ed.) (p.
The AASP Ethics Code has recently been
using technology. Therefore, it is critical that 12-7158). New York: Oxford University Press.
updated to provide guidelines related to the
practitioners inform clients of the potential
use of technology in the ield in Standard 26. In Martin, S. (2010, July). The Internet’s ethical challenges.
risks to conidentiality and take reasonable
Monitor on Psychology, 41(7), 32.
applying this Standard of the Code, consider steps to preserve conidentiality, such as

the following scenario and determine which through the usage of irewalls and encryption.
Rainie, L., & Smith, A. (2013). Pew Internet: Tablet and E-reader
ethical issues the practitioner should be
A inal consideration when using technology ownership update. Retrieved from http://www.pewinternet.
aware of:
is the practitioner’s own online presence. It is org/2013/10/18/tablet-and-e-reader-ownership-update/

possible for clients, students, or others to learn
Watson, J.C. & Halbrook, M. (2014). Incorporating technology
Joe is an AASP Certiied Consultant who owns personal information about a practitioner via
into practice: A service delivery approach. In J. G. Cremades
social media websites, so every practitioner
a consulting business, providing mental skills and L. Tashman (Eds.), Becoming a sport, exercise, and
should take caution when using social media
training services. He has recently created a
performance psychology professional: A global perspective (p.
Facebook proile that he protects users from to disseminate personal information.
152-159). New York: Psychology Press.
viewing unless they are in his social network.

He provides consulting services to many young Watson, J.C., Schinke, R. & Sampson, J., (2014). Ethical
Various forms of technology-based
adults who have grown up with the Internet issues affecting the use of teletherapy in sport and exercise
communication and social media are
psychology. In E. Etzel and J.C. Watson (Eds.). Ethical issues
and technology, and who are very comfortable pervasive, easy to use, and are often available
in sport, exercise and performance psychology, (p. 139-150).
using technology. Joe decides to begin using at very low cost. Many clients and students

Facebook as a method of communicating with Morgantown, WV: Fitness Information Technology.
(especially the young and tech-savvy) have
the clients he works with.
grown to expect that sport and exercise

AASP Newsletter // Summer 2014 // Tweeting and Competing: Ethical Considerations for Social Media Use in Sport and Exercise Psychology

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