Social Media Policy
This document outlines OptiMind Counseling and Consulting (OCC) policies related to the use of Social Media. Please read it to understand how we conduct ourselves on the Internet as mental health professionals. This document explains how you can expect OCC to respond to interactions that may occur on the Internet. This document has been created to help you understand the risks of using social media to contact us and to protect you and your confidentiality at all times. Please discuss any questions or concerns you may have with your therapist.
Text Messages
Therapists do not give out their personal cell phones at all. The business cell phone is text-able and any text message we receive from you becomes a part of your legal record. Although our business phone is text-able we ask that you do not send text messages, unless otherwise agreed upon.
Please use email to contact us for administrative or website technical reasons only (modifying appointments, billing information, broken links, etc.). Please do not email information related to your counseling sessions, unless otherwise discussed. Email communications are not completely secure or confidential. Any emails we receive from you and any responses we send to you become a part of your legal record.
Separate Accounts
Therapists employed by us may hold separate and isolated accounts to be used for the sole purpose of professional matters regarding OCC. These accounts will be held to the highest professional standards and will be monitored at all times by OCC staff. These accounts are separate from any personal accounts held by the therapist as an individual.
Friending
We do not accept a friend or contact requests from current or former clients on any personal social networking site (Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, etc.). Adding clients as friends or contacts on these types of sites can compromise their confidentiality and their therapeutic relationship with their therapist. We highly advise against you trying to add any OCC providers as a friend or contact.
Search Engines
OCC does not usually search for clients on Google, Facebook, or other searchable sites. The exception would be during a crisis. If we have reason to suspect you are a danger to yourself or others and we have exhausted all other reasonable means to contact you and/or your emergency contact, then we may use a search engine for information to ensure your welfare. If this ever occurs, we will fully document the search and discuss it with you at your next session.
Location-Based Services
Please turn off your location-based services (GPS tracking) on your electronic devices when you have a session with OCC therapist. We take your confidentiality seriously and do not want others to be able to track where you are before, during, or after sessions due to constant GPS check-ins. Be aware if you choose to keep “on” location-based services on your electronic device, you may compromise your privacy while attending the session with your therapist.