Group :9 abdulatif ibrahim almulhim 2140001216
Ibrahim alkhatib 2140010045
Mohammed alanazi 2130008809
Ali Awad

Define and arriculate hoe eTherapy could be viewed as in information system (input)(processing )(output constituents ) ?
E-therapy is a term that has been coined to describe the process of interacting with a therapist online in ongoing conversations over time when the client and counselor are in separate or remote locations and utilize electronic means to communicate with each other. It is a relatively new modality of assisting individuals resolve life and relationship issues. E-therapy utilizes the power and convenience of the internet to allow simultaneous (synchronous) and time-delayed (asynchronous) communication between an individual and a professional. For the purposes of this paper, e-therapy is defined as a licensed mental health care professional providing mental health services via e-mail, video conferencing, virtual reality technology, chat technology, or any combination of these. It does not include self-help methods such as public bulletin boards or private listservs. E-therapy is not psychotherapy or psychological counseling per se since it does to presume to diagnose or treat mental or medical disorders. However, e-therapy is flexible enough to also address many difficulties which clients present to the online therapist. As in other types of therapy, such as bibliotherapy, occupational therapy, and rehabilitation therapy), e-therapy does assist a person in addressing specific concerns with specific skills. This article examines the following issues of e-therapy. First, the types of e-therapy and related services are described to provide a background for the article. Second, the ethical codes which have been adopted by three major professional organizations (American Counseling Association, National Board for Certified Counselors, and the International Society for Mental Health Online) pertaining to e-therapy are summarized for professional and consumer use. Finally, the practical, ethical, and legal issues of e-therapy services are discussed fully .
Example: The Internet has changed the therapeutic experience for many patients. Rather than traveling to a therapist’s office or treatment center, individuals may be able to find the help they need online. One example of online therapy is eGetgoing, a fully accredited online eating disorder and addiction treatment program that combines group therapy, individual counseling and education with a 12-Step philosophy. Each client works with a chemical dependency counselor to create a recovery plan and has the option of attending a six or 12 week course . the online context has great potential for both e-learning and e-therapy and there are even some potential advantages over traditional teaching and therapy methods first the internet greatly widens participation for those living in remote areas or those with work family .
Discuss and explain the ethical challenges raise in the article and for such kind of information system in particular?

1. The challenge to professional boundaries is the increased incidences of distraction when providing service and likelihood of confidentiality breaches when working from a distance. One of the greatest benefits of e-therapy is the convenience of providing services from home. However, this can also increase the risk of distractions while providing services as the professional and personal sphere becomes more blurred. This can increase the chances of distraction by family members or household duties, which may decrease the quality of the therapy session. Haberstroh et al. (2008) recommended that professional and personal life spheres be clearly delineated when therapists work from home. This is could include set hours in a private and separate room or office so that professional business can take place without distraction. Additionally, extra precaution regarding the accessibility of the computer by others should be taken to ensure confidentiality. Such precautions could be to avoid using a family computer and enabling a password protection for the computer used for therapy …
2 .the challenge within e-therapy is maintaining the delicate balance between professional and personal boundaries one important boundary concern is the ever growing accessibility of private information on the internet today internet users utilize search engines and social network web pages such as Wikipedia or face book than in the past (Rainie, 2009). For instance, Lenhart 2009 found that in survey of adults 18 and older 46% use social networking websites such as face book , Myspace, and Linkedln. Additionally, there is documented increase of clients utilizing these websites to gain additional information about health professionals and illness, as a means to connect to their health care providers, or to find medical or emotional support (Lehavot, 2009). Thruough the ethics codes were created to apply directly to professional activities, cyberspace constantly blurs the boundaries of professional and personal. Ethical guidelines that were developed to address multiple relationships are not specific to this type of on-line activity. However, APA ethical guidelines do state that any forseeable multiple relationship that may be potentially harmful should be avoided. The erapists should be aware of the type of personal information about themselves that is accessible to the public on-line. This potential for harm is especially salient in therapist’s use of blogs or social networking sites, such as Face book (Lehavot, 2009). For instance, if a client requests to friend their therapist on Facebook, which allows them access to the therapist’s profile, this puts the mental health professional in a difficult situation if the profile was not meant for public viewing Potentially damaging information may be accessed by the client. .