Social Media Policy

Social media is a useful tool for connecting, marketing and sharing of business and therapeutic information with the general public. I use social media for this purpose. I do not engage in therapeutic interventions online. This document outlines my social media policy, please take the time to read it so that you are informed about how I conduct myself online.

Privacy & Confidentiality
My primary concern is your privacy and confidentiality. You are under no obligation to follow my business pages on social media. Please note that if you choose to follow Caletasia Counselling on social media, the contacts on your account will be able to see that you are linked to a counselling/psychotherapy business. I won’t ever follow you back and under no circumstances will I ever reveal that I am connected to you as your therapist.

Friending
I do not accept friend requests from current or past clients. Over the course of our therapy together, the therapeutic relationship and the boundaries that we set in therapy are paramount to your psychological safety, recovery and growth. Friending blurs these boundaries. The reason I don’t friend past clients is because once we ‘friend’ the relationship shifts and it would then become a ‘dual relationship’. These types of relationships are advised against by therapy associations in their Code of Ethics. It would therefore be unethical of me to ‘friend’ you. I take your healing journey seriously and will always keep the door open for you to return at any time in the future. If we have ‘friended’, that wouldn’t be possible.

Private Messaging
I do not accept private messages via my social media accounts. Please contact me as per our Client Contract, this is via text message or email.

Googling Clients
I don’t ever Google or search for my clients online. I believe this to be a breach of your privacy. Sometimes clients like to show me their photos or achievements via their social media pages in session – this is ok done together in session.

My Interactions Online
I adhere to my Code of Ethics regarding my online behaviour. As an owner and a member of counsellor and psychotherapist groups, under no circumstances do I ever talk about specific clients online, not even with de-identified information. I believe talking about specific clients online to be in breach of my Code of Ethics.

Online Reviews
The only search engines I have listed myself on are Google Business and therapists directories. Sometimes business directories take it upon themselves to add businesses without their permission. To maintain your confidentiality and privacy, please be aware that your details are available to the public when you leave reviews for counselling businesses. If you feel that I have breached my Code of Ethics or you are unhappy with something that has occurred in your therapy, as per our contract, I welcome you bringing any concerns to your therapy and to make use of my therapy association’s complaints procedures.

Conclusion
Thank you for reading my social media policy. Please feel free to talk to me about this policy if you have any concerns.