What is a major ethical concern regarding "telephone therapy"?

The major ethical concern regarding "telephone therapy" centers around the difficulty in assuring confidentiality. This concern arises because therapy conducted over the phone can expose sensitive client information to risks that might not be present during in-person sessions. Telephone calls can potentially be overheard, or the data could be accessed by unauthorized individuals if precautions are not taken. Ensuring confidentiality is a foundational ethical principle in therapy, as it helps to build trust and promotes open communication between the therapist and client.

While increased client engagement and enhanced therapeutic rapport can be positive outcomes associated with telephone therapy, they do not address the significant ethical responsibilities of maintaining client privacy. Similarly, reduced session duration might affect the service delivery, but it does not directly relate to the ethical implications of confidentiality. Therefore, the difficulty in assuring confidentiality stands out as a prominent ethical issue that therapists must be aware of and actively work to mitigate when providing services via telephone.