ASPECTOS ÉTICOS DAS INTERVENÇÕES PSICOLÓGICAS ON-LINE NO BRASIL: SITUAÇÃO ATUAL E DESAFIOS

Online psychological interventions were regulated in Brazil in 2000 and its last update was in 2012 through the Resolution No 011/2012 of the Federal Council of Psychology (CFP). This update  permitted online psychological counseling, limited to 20 sessions; however, the Brazilian specialized literature have not given yet  proper attention to regulations and implications  of online psychological interventions. This article aims to analyze critical topics of Resolution 011/2012. Findings from the international literature on online psychotherapy are discussed and compared to current regulations in other countries. Analysis indicated that online treatments are already well established in countries such as Sweden, Australia, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom. They are supported by empirical studies on efficacy, effectiveness, and ethical aspects such as doctor-patient confidentiality. It is concluded that the CFP guidelines follow to some extent the policies and actions of associations and professional bodies from other countries. Even so, several elements still need to be updated. This would include defining exactly what psychological counseling is, clarifying how to number the asynchronous meetings, specifying situations that are covered by the Resolution, setting a number of virtual meetings for patients who are traveling or unable to attend sessions in person, and providing parameters from which the service prices can be established. Lastly, the relevance of some kind of certification for psychologists who provide online services is debated, considering that the interface with the technology broadens the professional field and the scope of psychological care.