|
How to respond when clients send "Friend Request" to their psychotherapists or counselors on Facebook, MySpace, LinkedIn, Twitter or other social networking sites Opening Statement By Ofer Zur, Ph.D. Increasing numbers of therapists have profiles on Facebook, MySpace, Twitter or other social networking sites. While some therapists' profiles are highly personal, others are strictly professional. Some therapists post a profile on Facebook as part of their practice marketing efforts. Many therapists with Facebook or other social networking profiles cringe at the idea and dread the moment when a client posts a Friend Request. They wonder whether it is ethical to accept such a request, and they are concerned with the clinical and relational ramification of ignoring it. Then other therapists, whose Facebook or other profiles are exclusively professional and geared to help market their practices welcome friends request form clients and/or add potential and current clients as "Fans." Confidentiality and privacy issues are extremely important when it comes to therapist-client communications via social networking. Therapists must carefully consider not only issues of privacy and confidentiality, but also issues of record keeping, privilege, and other ethical and legal considerations. I have explored most of the above mentioned issues in my online paper To Accept Or Not To Accept. It also covers the following topics:
oferzur wrote:
From the moderator, Dr. Zur:
Thanks Dr. Milan: This is indeed a very important topic. In early August/2010 Dr. Kolmes and myself will post, what I believe is the first of its kind online course on Digital Ethics for 8 CE credits.
08/01/10 20:55:12
Laurel Milan, Ph.D. wrote:
This is an important topic, which is not really discussed anywhere else. Information regarding Social Media Practices is much needed in today's work environment and a topic that comes up a lot in supervising pre-licensed therapists. Thank you for the wonderful information.
08/01/10 20:43:37
Don Eisner, Ph.D. J.D. wrote:
An article in the LA Times by Michael Hiltzik (June 6, 2010) points out some major privacy concerns related to Facebook. I would hesitate to join Facebook and similar networks. The problems can be greater when attempting to interact with former or current patients. One might inadvertently reveal that someone is a current patient. Their name could be sent out to other sources without permission or knowledge. Protecting privacy appears to be quite questionable
06/06/10 17:22:56
Oraine Ramoo, M.Ed., CTT, HPs wrote:
My situation is a bit different. I have had clients who Google me, but everything found is professional. I knew that clients would look for me on Facebook so my personal page is not even under my actual name, has no pictures of me, and my privacy settings are HIGH. My Facebook page for my business is different. I have actually gotten individuals who join and then become clients. But it is a very public forum and very professional - everything has to do with counseling and clients (and others) understand what should be there. More informative than anything else. Luckily, nothing has gone awry as of yet. I just do not think it is a good idea to have clients see into your personal life. No matter how careful you may be - you never know who will post something inappropriate and a client will see. It is of the utmost importance that we keep a therapeutic relationship professional in the best interest of the client and the therapist. Why fear a bad incident or deal with damage, when you can be free and doing other things? Social networking have pros and cons, it's just how to use the pros effectively and lessen the cons.
05/05/10 07:42:54
David Kamen, Ph.D. wrote:
I just want to say that I appreciate this blog, and everyone's comments on it. It is very helpful in my thinking on the matter. This is not an easy topic and hearing the vrious opinions is hepful.
05/02/10 18:42:09
oferzur wrote:
FROM THE MODERATOR: In response to many therapists who have asked me about adding a "Social Networking" policy statement in the "Office Policies" or "Informed Consent" that all clients review and sign prior to treatment, I offer the following example that is generally more relevant for therapists who have personal profile on Facebook rather than practice/professional profile.
SOCIAL NETWORKING: I do not accept friend requests from clients on any social networking site, such as Facebook. I believe that adding clients as friends on these sites can compromise your confidentiality and our respective privacy. For the same reason, I request that clients do not communicate with me via any interactive or social networking websites. A NOTE: What therapists put in their policies will need to be personal to them, as they understand their ethical and professional obligations, their personal preferences, sense of integrity, and comfort level with transparency and with the technological options available to them. What's important is communication between therapists and their clients. Content of these policies is likely to vary greatly from therapist to therapist. These issues are very new to our profession and are likely to evolve in the coming years.
05/02/10 12:30:57
John A. Riolo, PhD wrote:
There is no simple right or wrong here. It can be ethical to accept or reject a client as a ‘friend” or it may not depending on any number of circumstances. As I mentioned to Dr. Zur when he was formulating this excellent blog it depends largely on whether all partied agree on the meaning or operational definition of “friend”. In the non digital world that a digital immigrant might call ” real life” I have many people whom I would referred to as neighbors, acquaintance, colleagues, clients, former clients, business associated and some intimate friends. Hopefully we are all cordial and friendly. We may even loosely refer to each other as friends but there is usually a understanding that the term friend has different degrees of intimacy. Unusually intimate or close friends know who each other are.
In the digital world social networks like Facebook have combined all the above relationships and lumped them all into the term “friend”. This may complicate matters some but need not be a problem if the clinician makes it clear to their patients just what they means by friend in the contest of a social network. John A. Riolo, PhD
05/02/10 11:52:54
David Kamen, Ph.D. wrote:
I think that risk-managment wise, the safest thing to do is to say "No" to facebooking, etc. However, I would add, that the "no" is because of the ethical greys in the issue of facebooking, and because we have too many kinds of mental health professionals sitting on composite licensing boards that would never take the time to understand why you would ever facebook a client.
The truth is, I think, in some situations, it could be an OK or even a healthy thing to do. And I think, it could and should be a case-by-case issue. Of course, that's all hypothetically speaking. For example, what if one was leading a therapy group, and had a special facebook page desginated specifically for that group that the leader of the group was to participate in, for therapeutic purposes only, with privacy disclaimers and various legal stipulations to protect its integrity. Is that necessarily so terrible in every instance? Yet, I know, as a society, and as to the fact that we are in a composite mental health profession (i.e., Psy.D's and LICSWs, Ph.D.'s, LMFT's, LCMHC's - are are all thought to be the exact same by the HMO's, legal statutes and after a while, by ourselves too) there are too many mixed opinions about it. There are too many liability risks to face. So, facebook is another instance of: better to be safe than sued.
04/30/10 15:32:51
Julie Schmidt LMFT wrote:
It offers the client a confusing and contradictory message regarding their relationship with you. As a "friend", you, as a therapist, have just reduced effectiveness at best, blurred boundaries at worst. Not worth the hurt feelings of being refused as a "friend". I just don't use Facebook at all. However, social networking should be not only discussed but be a part of the written full disclosure at the intake meeting. Especially if counseling children, teens and young adults. But I would add it in on all forms, as all ages use this medium for exchange.
04/28/10 21:23:14
Tom Smith, Ph.D. wrote:
Social networking sites are continuing to evolve and into what we do not know. We do know that criminal elements are already using these sites and the information available there for nefarious purposes and corporations for their commercial purposes. Ours is a profession that is based on trust and confidentiality, limits and boundaries. In the "information marketplace" there is NO PRIVACY contrary to what some may believe. I recall the term "dangerous liaisons" and think that it applies regarding social networking sites. I suggest to avoid them altogether and watch how they morph into vehicles used for the good or bad. I like to meet my friends in the coffee shop. I also do not "count" my friends. These sites have no place in the therapeutic relationship that is based on the "face-to-face" encounter.
04/28/10 13:56:58
Celenia Delsol, MA, MFT Intern #60852 wrote:
I have a blanket policy of not allowing clients to "friend" me. I restrict more personal information to FaceBook "friends" and don't want clients having access to that information. Furthermore, I don't want to be dialoguing with clients outside of the therapeutic setting.
04/28/10 11:20:12
Azzia Zur, B.A. wrote:
It's a tricky business - the fluidity of online contact with the professional boundaries of a therapeutic relationship. As you have written, small communities often include boundary crossings and relationships - but these are done consciously, sometimes with consultation and on a case-by-case basis. Yes - therapists should have a Social Media Practices form. And I recommend all Baby Boomers- and -up to learn from nearby Digital Natives how to manage privacy settings online.
04/27/10 19:26:59
|
          
|
April 27, 2010: To Accept or Not to Accept: When clients send "Friend Requests" to their psychotherapists and counselors
|
| Follow us on: |   |
|
|
||||||||
