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Social Media Policy

Effective January 2025
Authentic Perspectives Counseling & Coaching, LLC
www.authenticperspectivescc.com

 

Introduction

At Authentic Perspectives Counseling & Coaching, LLC, we recognize that social media plays an essential role in education, outreach, and professional communication. However, to ensure your privacy, confidentiality, and the integrity of the therapeutic relationship, we have established the following Social Media Policy. This policy outlines how we engage with social media and explains how we interact with current and former clients online. Please review this policy carefully and discuss any questions or concerns with your therapist.

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I. Professional Boundaries & Confidentiality

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1. Separate Professional & Personal Accounts

We maintain separate, professional social media accounts used exclusively for educational and informational purposes. These accounts are distinct from personal social media accounts and are not used to communicate with clients.

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2. No Friend or Follow Requests

To maintain professional boundaries, we do not accept friend or follow requests from current or former clients on personal social media accounts (e.g., Facebook, Instagram, Twitter/X, LinkedIn, TikTok).

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3. Client Engagement with Professional Accounts

Clients are welcome to follow, like, or engage with our professional social media pages, but:

  • Social media is public—your engagement (likes, comments, shares) may be visible to others.

  • We do not follow clients back or engage in private social media discussions.

  • If we notice that you have followed or interacted with our professional pages, we may briefly discuss the impact in session.

 

II. Communication via Social Media

 

4. No Therapy via Social Media

For confidentiality and ethical reasons, social media is not a secure or appropriate method of communication for therapy-related matters. Please do not:

  • Use social media messaging (e.g., Facebook Messenger, Instagram DMs, Twitter/X messages) to contact your therapist.

  • Use social media for scheduling, cancellations, or therapy discussions.

  • Engage in public online discussions about therapy sessions.

 

For non-urgent matters, please use phone, email, or the secure client portal.

 

5. Email & Text Communication

Email and text messaging should only be used for administrative purposes (e.g., scheduling, billing). Do not send therapy-related content unless otherwise discussed.

  • Email and text messages are not fully secure or confidential.

  • Any messages may become a part of your legal medical record.

  • For clinical matters, call your therapist directly.

 

III. Online Searches & Privacy Protection

 

6. No Searching for Clients Online

We do not conduct online searches (e.g., Google, Facebook, Instagram) for client information, except in rare emergency situations when:

  • A client is suspected to be in crisis or at risk of harm.

  • The client is unreachable through traditional contact methods.

  • Emergency contacts must be located to ensure client welfare.

 

If a search is conducted, it will be fully documented and discussed in session.

 

IV. Business Review & Ratings Sites

 

7. No Soliciting Testimonials or Reviews

To protect client confidentiality and ethical integrity, we do not:

  • Request, encourage, or solicit testimonials or reviews from clients.

  • Respond to public reviews on business listing sites (e.g., Yelp, Google Reviews, Healthgrades).

 

If you choose to leave a review, please understand that we cannot acknowledge or respond due to confidentiality laws.

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8. Concerns About Your Experience

If you have concerns about your therapy experience, we encourage you to:

  • Discuss them directly with your therapist in session.

  • If needed, contact the Florida Board of Clinical Social Work, Marriage & Family Therapy, and Mental Health Counseling:

 

V. Location-Based Services & Check-Ins

 

9. Be Mindful of Location-Based Services (LBS)

If you use location-based services on social media or mobile apps, be aware that:

  • Check-ins at our office or virtual therapy locations may reveal your attendance at therapy.

  • Passive location tracking (e.g., GPS-enabled apps) may allow others to infer that you are a client.

  • For privacy reasons, we recommend disabling automatic check-ins when attending therapy sessions.

 

VI. Emergency & Crisis Situations

 

10. Social Media is NOT for Crisis Communication

Do not use social media for urgent or crisis situations. We do not monitor social media in real-time and cannot respond to emergency situations via online platforms.

If you or someone you know is in crisis, please seek immediate help from one of the following resources:

  • 911 – For medical or psychiatric emergencies

  • 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline – Dial 988 (24/7 support)

  • Crisis Hotline of Central Florida – (727) 791-3131

  • Mental Health Hotline (NAMI) – 1-800-950-NAMI (6264)

  • Warmline.org – Peer support for mental health

 

VII. Compliance & Policy Updates

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11. Regular Policy Review

This Social Media Policy is reviewed annually to ensure compliance with:

  • ACA Code of Ethics

  • Florida mental health regulations

  • Industry best practices for confidentiality & professional conduct

 

VIII. Key Takeaways from This Policy

  • No friending, following, or online engagement with clients

  • No therapy via social media—use email or phone for communication

  • No testimonials, reviews, or public discussions about therapy

  • Social media is public—engagement may be visible to others

  • In case of emergency, seek immediate help from crisis resources

 

This policy ensures ethical, responsible, and professional social media use while safeguarding client confidentiality. If you have any questions, please discuss them during your session.

 

For questions, contact us at helloapcc@gmail.com or visit our website:
🌐 www.authenticperspectivescc.com

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