Online Therapy » Privacy

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• Privacy

Is Online Therapy private and confidential?

I value confidentiality highly. However, internet communication is not a perfect science. To maximize security and confidentiality, I use:

• A secure, web-based messaging system instead of regular email. (Regular email is akin to sending a postcard through snail mail.)
• In addition, my online therapy office is a chat room that has a password and only permits the therapist and one other person to enter at any given time.

You can also take steps to keep your therapy confidential and safe:

• Don't use a work computer to store your email therapy conversations or transcripts from your live chat sessions.
• Take extra care to address emails when writing to your online therapist. Always double check the email address before hitting Send.
• Safeguard the password for your online Online Therapy email and chat room.
• Do not allow other people access to your personal computer if you have therapy transcripts.
• Make sure that any hard copies of your therapy sessions, either email or transcripts from live chat, are stored in a secure place.
• NEVER send credit card or payment information via regular email. Unless you are using an encrypted email messaging system, your personal information is not safe.

The only exceptions to any psychotherapist's confidentiality rules are situations in which you indicate that you either plan to kill yourself or hurt and/or harm somebody else. In these situations, as a mandated reporter therapists are required to notify the appropriate authorities. Online Therapy is no different.