What should be included in informed consent for telepractice to ensure client understanding and safety?

• A. Consent to share with marketing.
• B. Technology used, privacy limitations, emergency plan, location, consent to recording if applicable, and ability to switch to in-person if needed; confirmation of client consent.
• C. Only consent to therapy.
• D. No need for location or emergency plan.

Answer: (B)

In telepractice, informed consent must cover the specifics that affect safety, privacy, and understanding of how care will be delivered remotely. The most complete consent explains the technology that will be used so clients know what devices and platforms are involved and what privacy risks or limitations come with them. It also outlines privacy limitations inherent to virtual care, including how data is protected, stored, and who may have access. A clear emergency plan is essential, detailing what steps to take in a crisis, who to contact, and what local resources are available at the client’s location. Knowing the client’s actual location during sessions matters for licensing, jurisdiction, and emergency response. Consent to recording should be included if applicable, with explicit details about when recording occurs, who can access it, and the purpose. Finally, there should be an option to switch to in-person care if needed, ensuring ongoing access to services. This combination ensures the client understands what telepractice involves and how safety and confidentiality will be maintained.

Consent that focuses only on general therapy omits these modality-specific protections, consent to marketing would breach confidentiality, and omitting location or emergency planning fails to address safety and regulatory considerations essential to telepractice.