Basically....here are some things to know before you email your client.

There are many factors that come into play when clients begin to take nontraditional methods of counseling, such as calling, texting, and EMAILING! As I've discussed earlier, rules of confidentiality come into play and becomes even more important to uphold when adding technology to counseling sessions. However there are other considerations that should be taken before counselors begin branching out to the world of technology.

1. Communication professionalism: This means  not using slang, short hand messaging, emotes, or other "cool" forms of instant messaging. Although you will be using technology and more than likely with a adolescent that uses slang terms, this is not an opportunity to begin to emulate the way that your client is speaking to you, especially if you're doing so to appear "cool". When applying to graduate school, I attended a seminar where we were told DO NOT write the way you speak. Likewise I suggest the same thing to professionals using technology with their clients. Although you should remain authentic in your transmission, you should try to avoid miscommunication to the best of your ability. 

• Not okay: "Yo shawty! I hear ya and I know it be hard out in the strezz for ya yung thug"
• Okay: "Hey (client name), I understand what you're saying and I imagine these circumstances must be difficult for you." 

1. Privacy for you and your client: Since you will be using a third party, the internet, to transmit your information it is important to know everything you can about your this party provider. For example, Facebook states in their Terms of Service that "you grant us a non-exclusive, transferable, sub-licensable, royalty-free, worldwide license to use any IP content that you post on or in connection with Facebook (IP License). This IP License ends when you delete your IP content or your account unless your content has been shared with others, and they have not deleted it."  This means that if you begin massaging your client through Facebook, that information is owned by Facebook. Other sites that provide email addresses may have similar privacy laws terms of service. Being aware of what happens to your email transcriptions is important in helping to make your client feel comfortable and to ensure confidentiality is maintained. 
2. Technical hiccups and backups: Although technology is God's gift to man - its still made by humans and therefore can have many faults. It is important to be aware of where your client is during your sessions. Is your client using a public facility where your emails can be hacked by an outsider? Is your client's connection reliable? Will you be storing your emails with your client and if so by what means? Will you be using internet sites like Dropbox or a personal server? What happens in the case that your client is unable to get to access their email, what is your second option? Any of these issues may arise while counseling online thus is would behove you to have secondary options in place before you begin online email counseling. Likewise it would be wise to have multiple backups in place to make sure your can assess your client's information when you need it. 

These are just some of the more pressing concerns that you can address with your client when you begin internet counseling with them. The article, I love these emails, or do I?, discusses additional considerations therapists should keep in mind when conducting email counseling sessions.