Dr. Sarah, a colleague, contacts you about a plan for her telehealth services. She has over 100,000 followers on Twitter and a strong presence on Facebook and Instagram. She wants to offer one free therapy session to potential patients. She explains that she is trying to promote her telepsychology practice and show that counselors are open, friendly, and willing to help, potentially for free to get treatment started. The overarching goal is to develop a robust telehealth practice.

Knowing the rules of the state, Dr. Sarah will make it clear that services are only available in the states that she is licensed. Dr. Sarah will also use a secure, HIPAA-compliant video conferencing service. She is looking for general feedback, such as thoughts on a good marketing plan or any ethical concerns.

1. Do you as a counselor have any ethical concerns about this marketing plan? What are your initial impressions?
2. Which ACA ethical codes would apply to this scenario? Be specific.
3. What are some of the potential pitfalls of this plan?
4. What are some of the overarching ethical principles involved in this decision?
5. What state laws would you consider to help make this decision?
6. What would your decision be and why?