250 words with 1-2 scholarly references under each classmate’s response. Answer if you agree or disagree with their post and why and add additional scholarly information which supports your negates why you agree or disagree and add some information either new or about the topic at hand.

1) Christina Fife 4.1

Brief assessments can provide useful information at the onset and through out the therapeutic process. By incorporating technology into the use would also increase the benefit to clients. The Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI) is a short self-report that measures a variety of symptoms experienced over a one-week period (Groth-Marnat, & Wright, 2016). This is a useful tool to use before each therapy session, to gage new or ongoing issues or to determine if progress is being made. This is a tool that can be made accessible to clients through a link on the clinician website, allowing them to complete prior to their session and providing information to the clinician that will be useful during the session. The client could also download the form to their phone for ease of use and submission to the clinician and most people use their phones as their main computers.

Another self-report that could be used easily with clients is the State Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). The STAI measures a client’s current level of anxiety based upon answers of 40 questions. The questions are answered along a Likert type scale (Groth-Marnat, & Wright, 2016). It is a beneficial way to measure the client’s current state of anxiety as they are to report how they feel now for some questions and historically for others. It is a valid tool to use during intake to provide additional information. This is another form that can be provided online for clients to complete and submit prior to their first meeting.

The use of technology will benefit the counseling profession as more people become comfortable using their phones or laptops to relay information instead of discussion. Online forms and assessments can help during the initial stages of therapy, when clients may not feel completing comfortable expressing their thoughts and feelings. Online tools will allow them to provide needed information in a way that does not require those feelings related to closeness.

Groth-Marnat, G., & Wright, A. J. (2016). Handbook of Psychological Assessment (6th ed.). Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons.

2) Christina Cunningham 4.1

There are many different assessment tools available for behavioral health professionals screening for behavioral or cognitive psychological disorders. One such assessment tool is called the Wechsler Intelligence Scale. As its name suggests, this series of scale was designed to measure intelligence. Another assessment tool is called the NEO Personality Inventory. This assessment measures general aspects of personality including “an individual’s typical behavior patterns; usual feelings and opinions; and attitudes relating to the self, others, and situations” (Groth-Marnet, 2016). As technology progresses and the face of behavioral health-along with all other fields-changes to accommodate the changes, it’s important to consider how assessment tools will be affected (and already are). First of all, it’s essential to establish that technology such as cyber counseling and online sessions have proven to be effective, safe, and convenient for clients. For example, a study was completed focusing on former soldiers utilizing cyber counseling. “Data from the unclassified study, which tracked satisfaction and rate of referrals, suggest that screen-to-screen sessions are just as effective as those conducted in person” (Folsom, 2010). Secondly, the challenges that come with the rapidly shifting field should be acknowledged. Primary components of the ethics of good counseling such as privacy, informed consent, etc. need to be upheld in the same way.

References:

Folsom, E. (2010). Cyber Counseling. American Scholar, 79(2), 15. Retrieved from https://search-ebscohost-com.lopes.idm.oclc.org/lo…

Groth-Marnet, G., & Wright, A. J. (2016). Handbook of psychological assessment (6th ed.). Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons Inc.

3) Daniel Kaufmann 4.1

In the present times, I have noticed that even the publishers of psychological tools have been moving away from paper-copy administration, and are doing things to reinforce the benefits of having clients go into the publisher portal and submitting their data online.

As counselors, we often must decide which parts of our practice will exist in paper and folder form, and which elements are going to be online as well.

Take some time to identify different clinical assessment tools, then share what formats are available, and what costs might be associated with these decisions. Also, review the benefit of adding the identified assessment to your practice strategy.

That will add a reality-based insight to our discussion of technology in assessment today.

4) Paul Hoffman 4.2

There are many standards that are expected of counselors when using technology whether that be for distance counseling or using the technology for other uses in the counseling process. Counselor who use distance counseling, technology, or social media must talk to the client about informed consent and disclosure because this gives the client the right to choose whether to continue with services (American Counseling Association, 2014). The informed consent must include credentials, risks of counseling using distance, technology failure, emergency protocol, time zone differences, cultural or language difference, insurance issues, and social media policy (American Counseling Association, 2014). Counselors must also be trained in distance counseling and be aware of legal rights counseling across state lines (American Counseling Association, 2014). When using technology counselors must discuss security and take reasonable precautions to ensuring that information is secure as well as confidentiality (American Counseling Association, 2014). Confidentiality is limited when using technology so the counselor must discuss these limitations as well as verify the client’s identity (American Counseling Association, 2014). When using technology assisted services, the counselor must determine if using these tools are in the best interest of the client and that they are capable of using the application (American Counseling Association, 2014).

According to the California law, the counselor must provide an informed consent and document on the patient’s medical record, the patient is entitled to confidentiality, all medical reports from the distance counseling is part of the client’s file, dissemination of any images or information identifiable to a specific patient for research or education is not permitted without patient consent unless authorized by the state or federal law (California State Legislature, 2019, C.R.S. § 36-3602). If these rules are not followed, and the client complains to the board, the board will provide a thorough investigation. There are several things that may happen depending on the nature of the violation this can include a dismissal of the complaint, rehabilitation, restrict the licensee’s practice, suspension of license, or revoked (California State Legislature, 2019, C.R.S. § 32-3251).

Reference

American Counseling Association. (2014). ACA code of ethics. Alexandria, VA: Author.

California State Legislature. (2019). California Revised Statutes. Sacramento, CA: Author.