Aspectos éticos da psicoterapia online no Brasil

Abstract

The general objective of this study is to analyze the ethical aspects of online psychotherapy, highlighting the main challenges and guidelines that psychologists must follow. The specific objectives include identifying relevant ethical standards for the practice of online psychotherapy and discussing the implications of confidentiality in the digital environment. Furthermore, this research is relevant in expanding scientific knowledge about the impacts of this treatment modality on therapeutic effectiveness, patient satisfaction, and accessibility to mental health care. In terms of methodology, this is a literature review. The search was conducted in databases such as PubMed, PsycINFO, SciELO, and Google Scholar using the following keywords: online psychotherapy, regulation, confidentiality, ethics. The study achieved its objective by identifying critical elements that influence the practice of online psychotherapy, particularly challenges related to confidentiality and informed consent. Data protection becomes more complex in the digital environment, requiring platforms to ensure security, and psychologists to adopt best practices to maintain privacy. Additionally, the technical competence of professionals was identified as essential, requiring not only mastery of therapeutic techniques but also familiarity with technologies and compliance with ethical and legal guidelines.