[learning1]

Is it ethical for t's to read what client's post online without asking the client? I mean for example, what we post on a site like this, or a facebook page, or some other place people put personal information? I've been told it's not, and I've assumed it's not ethical. But now I wonder if there's actually consensus about it?

What is online is for public viewing, that includes therapists. Though, I'm not sure that I know of any T that goes looking for personal information about a client online.

There was an opportunity I had with a client of mine, to gain information about whether an event she was reporting actually happened or not. It was traumatizing for her, and there would be news coverage on it. I had to really think about if I wanted to seek it out. In the end, I didn't. I didn't think it'd be therapeutic to find out online.

So even though that instance had to do with trauma, I didn't want the information from an online source. I wanted it from her. Saying that, I can't think of an instance in which a T would find it therapeutic to seek out information on a client without their consent...

Doesn't mean it doesn't happen. But I'm not sure how this can be deemed "unethical" if it is on public websites. Though it could be considered poor client care.

[Elli-Beth]

If there were something I wouldn't seriously want my T to stumble across, I wouldn't post it publicly. For example, I recently posted using the phrase "issue x" to describe something I'm not ready for him to know yet. Does that mean I WANT him to read my stuff here? No, but there's nothing here that I wouldn't totally lose it over if he saw.

[Suratji]

If you make it public, it is public. How can it be unethical? But you're anonymous on PC.

I like what StormyAngels said, though, about how it might not be in client's best interest for a T to investigate. My thinking is that T's are busy enough without them wanting to add more work to their time.

My T told me once that another T asked him if he googled his clients, and my T was like . He said that he doesn't google his clients, and he feels like it's important to learn about his clients from what they bring into the room and share with him.

I do believe that things we post are public and that it's not unethical for T to read them. But, I always imagine my T coming here, finding a detailed recap of our session together and running away screaming. I bet once is enough

learning, are you worried that your T is reading something of yours online?

[PTSDlovemycats]

I don't think that it is unethical for T's to read what clients post online. I do however think that our T's have much better things to do with their time then to start googling and doing online searches on their clients. I could be wrong but I am pretty sure about that...

[learning1]

I totally agree with the people who say t's have too much to do to be checking clients online (at least my t's seem pretty busy).

I did get nervous about an odd coincidence with my t, but I feel pretty sure I must just be being paranoid.

I agree that if you post something online it's public and you can expect anyone to read it, but I thought that t's reading it (intentionally) would be an exception to what you should expect. I also think it's even more of a stretch that a t would intentionally read something and keep it secret that they had read it, maybe unless it's some kind of unusual emergency situation. It seems like that would contradict any kind of values I can think of that they teach in therapy.

It's good to know others don't think it's so clearly a violation of ethics for a t to read stuff we post.

[dizgirl2011]

Originally Posted by Elli-Beth

If there were something I wouldn't seriously want my T to stumble across, I wouldn't post it publicly. For example, I recently posted using the phrase "issue x" to describe something I'm not ready for him to know yet. Does that mean I WANT him to read my stuff here? No, but there's nothing here that I wouldn't totally lose it over if he saw.

I have to totally agree with Eli Beth, at least for me personally. I wouldnt post something that I couldn't talk to my therapist about if they did happen to see something I wrote on a forum or facebook, however I still would rather they didn't read everything I say...but if they did, I think it would be ok...appart from a feeling of being watched may be a bit un-nerving lol!

[WePow]

I have brought in things from PC that I posted but wanted my T to read. He is far too busy in his down time to spend it on work - IMHO.

I had a surgery in October and was using a similar support forum - I was floored when I went to see my surgeon and he brought up something I'd posted on that forum. I know it is public, and I used my state in my name and posted that he was my doctor, giving him a favorable review, but it was still a little bit of a jolt to know he was reading it...not exactly the same as a T reading but kind of similar...I haven't mentioned to my T that I'm on here.

[Elli-Beth]

Learning,
I've had two odd coincidences with what I've posted and what he's brought up, between the phrase "issue x" and a dust bunny reference. It bugged me for a while, but now I'm convinced he's too much of a techie dino to check out websites...

[BlessedRhiannon]

I tend to agree with everyone else...it's not really unethical...if you post something on a public forum, then it's out there for anyone to read, T or not. I do think that it might not be in a client's best interest for a T to go hunting for the things they have posted online and reading those things...unless the client specifically asks the T to do so.

There is a reason, though, that my user name here is not even remotely close to my own name, and that I haven't listed even my state in my location. If my T were really reading through posts, she could probably identify me...and I wouldn't mind all that much if she did...but I'm pretty sure she has better things to do.

[learning1]

It's a little late for me to take Elli-Beth and dizgirl's advice. I spect I'm not the only one who has stuff on here that they really wouldn't want their t to read though. Think of the "romantic feelings toward my therapist" forum. I think we need a rule of no t's reading that one Maybe the people posting there know better than to make themselves identifiable though.

I've kept what I wrote unidentifiable to probably anyone except my t's. I think it's really unlikely they would read it though.

Hmm I sure hope not. I would like to believe that my T has a life outside of therapy. lol. I don't know that it's appropriate per se, but probably not legally unethical.

[learning1]

Originally Posted by LydiaB

Hmm I sure hope not. I would like to believe that my T has a life outside of therapy. lol. I don't know that it's appropriate per se, but probably not legally unethical.

Just to clarify, I didn't mean illegal when I wrote the question. I didn't think it would be illegal or unethical in the sense that they could get in trouble with licensing for it. But I suppose I'd have thought professional guidelines would be against it.

[Seshat]

I get your point, learning1. Even though what we post at PC is public, I'd be sort of weirded out if (hypothetically speaking, of course) my T read my stuff without asking. It's not any other random person: it's my T! No offense meant here. What I intend to say is that I'm honest and open with T but I also choose when to say what. After all, nobody's forcing me into getting therapy. It's not that I've got something to hide. It's just that I feel reading online posts is not the best way T can find out. I hope I'm making myself clear.

I would totally feel like she has invaded my privacy. I have told her about this forum. Not sure I mentioned the name. I did once tell her that I hoped she never came in here! I told her this was my safe place to talk about things.

I print out a lot of things I post in here. She knows pretty much what I talk about. Still yet, I would not want her to come in here and look for me! While it may not be unethical, I think it would not look very good on a therapist's part to find out they have been snooping around in your space.

If they just happened to stumble across it, that's one thing. But if they come in here because they know you post in here, and they specifically search for you, that does not speak very well of them (IMO).

[Can't Stop Crying]

I agree with Squiggle...I don't think T's should come on here looking for us intentionally. But it's possible they stumble across this forum. In terms of legality and ethics, I don't think they'd be breaking any rules...but in terms of trust, that's a whole different issue IMO.

[sugahorse1]

My T knows I go on an internet forum, but not the name.
Really hope she doesn't look for/find it, but oh well..

[Perna]

I don't know how I would know if my T read stuff online; my sessions are/were about me and I brought up what to discuss. It would be unethical, in my opinion, for a T to bring up something they read/did in the first place and I can't imagine a conversation that goes,

T: "But just the other day you said on such-and-such site. . ."

[skysblue]

It's quite interesting that we go to T in order to reveal ourselves. That unveiling is supposed to help us heal but yet we don't want T to see what we post here. I guess most of us are not ready to be an open book to T.

[Elli-Beth]

Originally Posted by Elli-Beth

It bugged me for a while, but now I'm convinced he's too much of a techie dino to check out websites...

EEK! Today he mentioned reading a blog! He knows what blogs are! This is SO out of my image of him that- OMG- what if he IS reading this? ACK! I hereby take back every calm thing I posted about this topic!

[learning1]

Originally Posted by Perna

I don't know how I would know if my T read stuff online; my sessions are/were about me and I brought up what to discuss. It would be unethical, in my opinion, for a T to bring up something they read/did in the first place and I can't imagine a conversation that goes,

T: "But just the other day you said on such-and-such site. . ."

Hehe. If I was a t and I snooped online, I'd have a terrible time remembering what I read and what the person really told me. I'd blab what I read online for sure

[Dr.Muffin]

as far as i know, there is no consensus in the field....it continues to be an argument.

[learning1]

that's good to know Dr. Muffin. Do you know what the arguments for it are? I can imagine in situations where it's a safety issue there could be an argument for it. Also if it's something in the news, the client might expect the therapist to read it. I remember an episode of In Treatment where the client is a prominent business man in some kind of trouble, and he's shocked or maybe offended that the therapist (Paul?) hasn't read about it in the news. But that seems different from looking for stuff the client wrote online. It seems good for therapists to learn from what clients write online too, but that's different from looking for their own real life clients. okay, this post is long enough!