Technical, Deontological and Ethical Levels in the Use of Information and Communication Technologies in Psychotherapy

Abstract

The inclusion of information and communication technologies in psychotherapeutic treatments, involves the necessity to analyze, on the one hand their effectiveness, and on the other, the balance between the advantages and disadvantages in their implementation. The different ways in which the technological resources are used in the therapeutic area, also brings about the the need to think about the ethical and deontological aspects involved. informed consent, professional secrecy, protection of personal data, are some of the main issues. In the absence of specific deontological rules, professionals must appeal to the analysis of the principles on which those rules are based to resolve the dilemmas that emerge regarding the application of information and communication technologies in psychotherapy, since these constitute the basis of the ethical conduct of psychologists.