Chapter 17 - Ethical challenges and dilemmas of online psychotherapy

Abstract

Psychotherapy, as a model of psychological intervention, has undergone several changes with respect to its focus of content and medium of delivery. The digital medium of mental healthcare, which has been widely popularized post the COVID-19 pandemic, has existed since the 1960s. However, the 21st century has brought a renewed perspective to mental health well-being and care. Digital mental healthcare covers various pillars of care including psychotherapy and psychiatric care being delivered through the telephonic medium, digital and web platforms, smartphone applications, robot-assisted care, and artificial intelligence. With the digitalization of mental healthcare, although several new avenues of mental well-being and care have been explored on the one hand, the pressing issues of ethical dilemmas and challenges remain afloat on the other. This chapter highlights these dilemmas and challenges to equip the practitioner of the 21st century in the world of digitalization to practice with care and caution. The chapter raises concern over dilemmas and challenges that need to be addressed by mental health practitioners to ensure comprehensive well-being of the patient, psychologically and legally. The chapter also proposes recommendations for the development of guidelines for ethically informed mental health practice to protect patient rights and safety in the process of care. With the novelty of digitalization that is here to stay and grow, it is essential to inform mental healthcare with practical ethics as a measure of sustainable mental healthcare.