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You should use your professional judgment when deciding whether to offer virtual care. You’re expected to consider both the risks and benefits, as well as the needs of each client. For example, consider:

• Whether the client may be more comfortable and likely to engage virtually;
• potential loss of visual cues and other sensory inputs;
• increased risk of privacy breaches;
• accessibility/boundary issues.

Virtual care should only be used when clinically appropriate, with the client’s best interests as your top priority (Standards 17.1, 12.7). If in-person service is clinically needed and you do not wish to provide it to an existing client, you should support a referral to an appropriate provider.

If you offer only services virtually, consider which populations and conditions can be appropriately addressed without in-person contact.

Reflection questions:

• Is virtual care the most appropriate option for this client?
• Is the client able to engage effectively in virtual care?
• Can the client access a private space to receive virtual care?
• Are there other ethical considerations that may be relevant for the client?

Registrants should regularly assess the client’s progress to determine if virtual care continues to be appropriate and beneficial for the client.

When providing virtual care, follow Standard 17: Use of Technology by ensuring:

• You are competent in the technology used and understand its risks
• You obtain informed consent from the client, including communicating how the technology is used and any associated risks
• The virtual platform protects client privacy

The Canadian Psychological Association’s and the American Psychological Association’s may also be helpful resources to consider.

Yes. You’re free to responsibly use technology, including AI, as a support tool for service delivery. Even with the use of AI, you continue to be fully accountable for the services you provide, and therefore, the use of technology should be actively monitored, and all notes or reports should be reviewed.

As part of the informed consent process, clients should be aware and understand how technology is being used to assist the registrant and the risks to privacy and of technological error.

Registrants should use their professional judgement to determine the appropriateness of AI use for their context. Standard 17: Use of Technology provides additional guidance regarding the responsible use of technology.

Reflection questions:

• Have I assessed the potential risks and mitigated these before employing the use of AI?
• Am I competent in the use of AI?
• Am I reviewing AI-generated data for accuracy?
• Have I included information about the risks of AI use in my consent process?