Kaitlynn Cornell-Mullane completed her dissertation, Exploring the Ethics of Social Media in the Counseling Field, as part of the requirements for the PhD in Counselor Education and Supervision at Antioch University’s Seattle campus.
Social media has become deeply integrated into both personal and professional lives, yet its use by counseling professionals remains underexplored. This study investigated how those within the counseling field experience and utilize social media for professional development, identity formation, and ethical practice.
Cornell-Mullane conducted a qualitative online survey to collect data from counseling professionals (N = 20). Her findings revealed 6 themes: (a) Conflicting Perspectives on Client Social Media Use and Engagement, (b) Personal Discomfort and Ethical Ambiguity, (c) Counselors’ Varied Approaches of Social Media Use, (d) Social Media Use for Professional Development, (e) Mixed Perspectives on Social Media Marketing and Content Creation, and (f) Artificial Intelligence. These results could be utilized in the development of the revised American Counseling Association Code of Ethics and by counseling professionals who desire an understanding of how other professionals are navigating the nuances of social media.
Cornell-Mullane is a Counselor Educator, Supervisor, Licensed Creative Arts Therapist, Registered Drama Therapist, and Executive Functioning Coach based in New York City. She earned her PhD in Counselor Education and Supervision from Antioch University and her Master’s in Drama Therapy from New York University. She also holds certificates in Child and Family Therapy and Transcultural Counseling. She specializes in working with neurodivergent individuals, particularly those with ADHD, as well as individuals experiencing anxiety, trauma-related concerns, and relationship challenges.
Read and download Cornell-Mullane’s dissertation, Exploring the Ethics of Social Media in the Counseling Field, here.
