Digital policies
Technology is everywhere, and can make therapy more complicated than it needs to be, if we don’t discuss it and clarify how it can be thought about in the context of therapy. In particular there are issues of confidentiality we need to be aware of. Today’s digital world can also risk blurring the boundaries which are an important part of therapy.
My digital policies tell you about how I approach these questions in my practice.
Please also read about how I handle your personal data.
While not unsecured, and while I take all reasonable steps to ensure email security, my gmail email programme is not currently completely securely encrypted. This means that email communications between us may be vulnerable to viruses and human error.
I do not conduct therapy by email, and you will need to be mindful that I cannot guarantee any information you send me by email is completely secure.
It is probably best to use email with me only for routine arrangements such as appointment times. If you do choose to share confidential material with me by email, my usual professional standards of confidentiality apply. But you should be aware that all emails are retained in the logs of internet service providers. In addition to this, they can be susceptible to viruses and unintended forwarding or replication.
If you are concerned about the confidentiality of emails, please contact me by telephone, letter or in person instead of using email. You should not rely on emails in an emergency, in which case you should contact relevant emergency services.
I will always endeavour to use the email address you give me, for all email communication with you. If you allow email communication between us, you should give me an email address that you are happy for me to use.
Telephone and videoconferencing
I conduct face-to-face sessions in a quiet, confidential space. If we agree for any reason that we will conduct some or most of our sessions by telephone or by video conferencing, we will discuss this and also keep it under review because these methods of working can have an impact on the therapy.
I do conduct therapy by telephone if you are unable to come to sessions, though I do encourage the use of video conferencing as preferable to telephone therapy.
I make efforts to use video conferencing software that is sufficiently encrypted, though none of these systems are completely secure. There are programmes available which are more or less encrypted, so when we discuss video conferencing, we can agree which of these levels of encryption you are comfortable with. They will usually involve you downloading software to your device(s).
When using video conferencing we both agree not to record any of the session electronically.
I will provide a quiet and confidential space for video sessions, and you will need also to ensure that you are in a quiet space where you will not be interrupted, distracted or overheard.
You should arrange to have enough internet bandwidth to allow fair quality video calling, and should also arrange not to be holding your device so that you can relax in the session.
While I regularly conduct video conferencing sessions when people are outside the UK, you should bear in mind that I may not be insured to do sessions in all countries. You should check with me if you are going to be outside the UK so we can make arrangements according to the country you are going to.
Social media and internet
It is most useful if very clear boundaries are maintained between therapist and client, and it is important for the therapy that these boundaries should not be blurred. So it is best if there is no contact outside therapy sessions as far as this is avoidable. The nature of the digital world means that sometimes these boundaries can seem more fluid, through the existence of Google searching, social media and any online presence of therapist or client.
I take steps to keep my social media and online presence private, or where it is public, to restrict this to writing about mental health and related issues and to promote psychoanalytic approaches to mental health care. In order to avoid blurring the therapy boundaries I do not become ‘friends’ or share comments on Facebook, LinkedIn, or other social media with current or former therapy clients.
Whilst searching for people online has become part of everyday life, I prefer to keep my knowledge of you based only on what unfolds between us in sessions, so I will not ‘Google’ you or seek you out online.
I acknowledge that social media and other online networks can overlap and that private information can be shared and come to light. It is always a good idea to discuss in therapy anything you come across online about me, so we can talk about what this has meant for you.
Electronic invoicing
I send invoices by email or through an online software invoicing programme. If you would prefer not to receive invoices this way, please let me know and I will provide you with a printed copy weekly/monthly.
Text messaging
Text messages can be used between us about appointment times and in the event of being late or not being able to attend a session.
Because mobile texts are relatively insecure and because I do not conduct therapy by text, it is best not to use texting to discuss confidential matters, but to telephone or see me instead.
Miranda Seymour-Smith 2018 (with thanks to Aaron Balick for the model).
