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How Sturdy is that Digital Couch? Legal Considerations for Mental Health Professionals Who Deliver Clinical Services via the Internet

ABSTRACT This article reviews legal issues related to providing mental health services via the Internet. It provides a general overview of the field and discusses jurisdiction, licensure, legal duties (competence, consent, confidentiality), and other legal concerns related to the business of online counseling. It surveys potential criminal and civil liability issues, noting procedural and substantive aspects of the relevant law. The author concludes that, although providers face a variety of challenges, their efforts in providing a service needed and desired by an important segment of the help-seeking population are worthwhile.