Social Networking Policies

Like many of you, virtual realities like Facebook and LinkedIn, Twitter and who knows what else, snuck up on me without notice until voila! There are protocol to follow and I haven't known what they are.

As a result many former clients have friended me, LinkedIn with me, and many current clients have invited me to be their friends.   Here I am, publicly available in a profession that cut its teeth on strict adherence to utter privacy of the therapist. 

Obviously things have changed.  I am not a Freudian or psychoanalytic therapist, and the rules have relaxed at least a little since the early twentieth century.  I've tremendously enjoyed this opportunity to be invited into the extended worlds of my former clients. 

Yet, boundaries are a good thing, and I have made the choice to close my Facebook page to clients.  I trust this choice is understood and no one takes my decision personally.  Relationships between client and therapist are deep and profound, built on respect and sometimes evolving in a long abiding feeling of deep connection.  But they are not friendships.  It is time to bring my social networking presence up to date with my professional obligations to our work. 

As LinkedIn is a professional network, if you have been a client of mine, I would consider linking in with you.  I would prefer you chat with me about it before you send an invitation.