Ethical Implications Of Privacy, Confidentiality, And Informed Consent

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Analysis of the legal and ethical standards presented in the cases

The cases presented in the article highlight a number of legal and ethical standards that are relevant to the use of social media by applied sport psychology consultants. These standards include:

• Confidentiality: Applied sport psychology consultants have a duty to maintain the confidentiality of their clients. This means that they should not share any information about a client that could identify them without their consent. In the case of social media, this means that consultants should be careful about what they post about their clients, even if they do not use their names.

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• Professional boundaries: Applied sport psychology consultants should maintain appropriate professional boundaries with their clients. This means that they should avoid engaging in any personal or romantic relationships with their clients. In the case of social media, this means that consultants should be careful about the types of interactions they have with their clients online.
• Dual relationships: Applied sport psychology consultants should avoid dual relationships with their clients. This means that they should not provide services to a client if they have another relationship with them, such as a coach-athlete relationship. In the case of social media, this means that consultants should be careful about accepting friend requests from their clients.
• Informed consent: Applied sport psychology consultants should obtain informed consent from their clients before using social media to communicate with them. This means that clients should be aware of the risks and benefits of using social media for communication, and they should be able to make an informed decision about whether or not they want to use it.

Author's point of view The author of the article argues that the use of social media by applied sport psychology consultants can raise a number of ethical concerns. The author is particularly concerned about the potential for confidentiality breaches, boundary violations, and dual relationships. The author also argues that the use of social media can make it difficult for consultants to maintain a professional image. Position on the author's point of view I agree with the author that the use of social media by applied sport psychology consultants can raise a number of ethical concerns. However, I believe that the benefits of using social media can outweigh the risks, as long as consultants are aware of the ethical concerns and take steps to mitigate them. Application of ethical standards to the case studies In the first case study, the consultant used Facebook to provide feedback to a netball team. This raises concerns about confidentiality, as other members of the team could have access to the feedback. The consultant could address this concern by providing feedback to individual athletes in private messages. In the second case study, the consultant used WhatsApp to communicate with a handball team. This raises concerns about professional boundaries, as the consultant was communicating with the athletes on a personal level. The consultant could address this concern by using a more formal communication platform, such as email. In the third case study, the consultant used WhatsApp to communicate with a tennis player. This raises concerns about dual relationships, as the consultant was also the player's coach. The consultant could address this concern by avoiding communication with the player about personal matters. Resolution of ethical concerns In addition to the specific steps mentioned above, there are a number of general steps that applied sport psychology consultants can take to mitigate the ethical risks associated with using social media:

• Be clear about the purpose of using social media.
• Obtain informed consent from clients before using social media to communicate with them.
• Maintain confidentiality by avoiding sharing personal information about clients.
• Maintain professional boundaries by avoiding engaging in personal or romantic relationships with clients.
• Be aware of the potential for dual relationships.
• Monitor social media interactions to ensure that they are appropriate.
• Be prepared to address any ethical concerns that may arise.

Responsibility of psychology in addressing ethical concerns The field of psychology has a responsibility to address the ethical concerns associated with the use of social media by applied sport psychology consultants. This can be done by developing guidelines for the use of social media, providing training on the ethical issues involved, and conducting research on the impact of social media on the client-consultant relationship. In conclusion, the use of social media by applied sport psychology consultants can raise a number of ethical concerns. However, by being aware of these concerns and taking steps to mitigate them, consultants can use social media in a way that is both beneficial and ethical.