⚖️What happens when clients Google you?

Therapists creating content online has democratised access to information about mental health. At the same time, there are several emerging concerns resulting from social media use for which guidelines have not yet been formally formulated. In the next few weeks, I will be exploring some of these. Read previous editions on- reflecting about your online presence and ethics of sharing client stories online 

A 2021 study by Cox et al found that two-thirds of the sample had Googled their therapist. The resulting challenge is that social media invariably blurs the boundary between personal and professional.

During my training, questions about social media received a straightforward answer- refrain from being on it. However, for the younger generation, social media is unavoidable part of our lives. Even if we are not on it, a friend or family member is.

There is a need to reflect about the consequences of our social media presence and proceed with caution. Some things to think about-

• How do you feel about clients Googling about you?

• How might their findings impact the therapeutic work?

• What kind of separation can be there between personal and professional online presence?

• What kind of privacy settings should we keep for personal accounts?

• Do we ask friends and family to exclude us from their posts/ change privacy settings?

Our therapeutic modality is likely to inform the answers to some of these. For instance, a psychoanalytic practitioner prioritising being a blank slate might choose to forego an online presence altogether versus a CBT practitioner who may take a more relaxed approach.

That being said, there are some upsides to this- a 2016 study found that when clients found their therapists online, 74.1% reported an increased perception in therapist’s expertise and 68.2% reported greater positive feelings towards the therapist.

Next week, I’ll be elaborating on how to respond to these situations.

Until then,
Suvrita

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^{Sources
Kolmes, K., & Taube, D. O. (2016). Client discovery of psychotherapist personal information online. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 47(2), 147–154. https://doi.org/10.1037/pro0000065
Cox, Kathryn & Simonds, Laura & Moulton-Perkins, Alesia. (2021). Therapist-Targeted Googling: Characteristics and Consequences for the Therapeutic Relationship. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice. 52. 533-541. 10.1037/pro0000405.}