This document discusses ethical issues related to online or distance counseling. It notes that online counseling can occur through various means like email, chat rooms, video conferencing. The primary ethical concerns include ensuring confidentiality, establishing client identity, obtaining informed consent, and dealing with technical failures. Several professional organizations have ethical codes for online counseling but compliance is voluntary. Studies show many counseling websites do not meet ethical standards around areas like informed consent and confidentiality. The document provides examples of efforts to improve ethical practices and compliance through training and education. It concludes with a case example where a funeral home in California had to end an unlicensed online grief counseling program due to state licensing laws.