Digital Communication with Clients: Do We or Don’t We?

This leads to discussing the practice of digital communication with clients. Limits and boundaries about the capabilities of my e-mail and phone are explored in the first session. Both are not confidential, family could access my phone/iPad which has text and e-mail capability or they could also be stolen by someone who would read all my information. Administrative information versus crisis contact (no crisis e-mails or texts) is explicitly discussed. So far adults have been great about this, adolescents are another story. Our digital culture has allowed children and adolescents to not think twice about sending red flags through digital means. I have texted/talked adolescents off the ledge and reinforced techniques to deal with stressful situations.  Later, I have to transcribe the communication for my records. Important e-mails I print out. The adolescents have not abused the tool. They understand I may not answer right away because my phone is not attached at my hip. We discuss technology as not a reliable form of asking for help and explore other methods of intervention.

 

 Most of my clients use texting as a form of communication about session times or cancellations.  An excellent example of an e-mail agreement you can adapt to your practice is available here. I know I will adapt this form for my use with clients. This document is a good resource for digital communication standards.

I believe social work educators who are practitioners are particularly vulnerable to boundaries regarding e-mails.  Students are being taught to communicate with instructors through Skype, texting, e-mails, and learning management systems. “The more communication the better” is toted when courses are blended, or online. A slippery slope may occur when this translates to client interaction. Social work educators need to be especially mindful because they are a mentor in the field. The boundaries they teach and exhibit will be remembered by their students.

I am diligent in my efforts to maintain boundaries between my different responsibilities. Not that mistakes don’t happen, but I learn fast. This is the whole crux of the issue; change is constant with digital communication. Even with our adaptation to these technologies there may not be models for us to refer in case of a concern. Then all we can do is learn, get supervision, and refer back to our code of ethics. What have been your experiences with digital communication and clients?

Mishna, F., Bogo, M., Root, J., Sawyer, J., & Khoury-Kassabri, M. (2012). ‘It just crept in’: The Digital Age and Implications for Social Work Practice. Clinical Social Work Journal, 40(3), 277-286. doi:10.1007/s10615-012-0383-4

Written By Ellen Belluomini
Originally Posted at: http://socialworksdigitaldivide.blogspot.com/2013/03/digital-communication-with-clients-do.html

Ellen Belluomini is a leader, educator, and therapist having worked with thousands of students, teams, clients, and individuals for over twenty five years. This experience has allowed her the opportunity of witnessing the tremendous capacity of the human spirit for growth and rejuvenation. Ellen is an expert at facilitating change within individuals, groups, and organizations. She focuses on constructive communication techniques creating transformation on an individual or group level.Combining her passions of administration, education, and therapy, Ellen consults on the integration of technology on each level. She has experience developing face to face, blended, and online training/curriculum to meet the needs of an evolving society. She believes a start of the path to social equality is technological literacy for vulnerable populations.

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