Social Media in Therapy, by Sahar Dorani, M.A.

In today’s world of explosive social media- where your family learns about your life via Facebook before you have an opportunity for disclosure- there are clearly less options for people to maintain their privacy. We may want to be present and feel connected- but perhaps not to some people who remain outside our social circles. In graduate school psychology courses, supervisors and professors may discuss the myriad of issues that can arise when running into a therapy client in a public place. Some ideas could be to act as though you don’t notice a client (unless the client acknowledges you), keeping discussion to a minimum and avoid talking about therapy content, and not disclosing your relationship to the client if interacting with individuals in your clients’ company. However, as a new clinician practicing psychotherapy in 2013, a true concern exists in considering how to be present on the internet for personal use without being fully accessible to your clients. If a client finds you on either of the numerous social media outlets or online professional networks, is there a way to avoid exposing your client to information about yourself (which likely blurs therapeutic boundaries) without leaving your client feeling rejected?

While working as a therapist facilitating groups with incarcerated male clients, I had been repeatedly told by supervisors to protect my personal belongings and identity for my own safety when in the jail facility. I never felt threatened or intolerably uncomfortable during the nine months I spent there, but I certainly noticed how some clients would ask specific questions about the staff and we would always deflect such inquiries. One long-term client had struggled with suicidal thoughts and major depression during his time in jail, and he consistently checked in with staff and remained involved in his recovery and rehabilitation. He was a very compliant client and inmate, as well as a pleasant person. Upon his release from jail, he instantly began popping up in my social media networks. He requested to connect with me on three various websites with which I was affiliated; I could not accept these requests because I strongly believe in keeping firm boundaries between personal life matters and relationships with clients. The feelings that arose when I was forcing myself to neglect this former client’s attempts to connect were conflicting. Irritation was amongst them, however. Although it can be nice to hear from a former client, social media has created grounds for intrusion within the therapeutic relationship. Of course no therapist would intentionally want to reject or neglect a client, the infinite access that the internet provides must be met with caution and clinical judgement. 

The therapeutic relationship relies on structure and consistently kept boundaries. The internet remains boundless and easily poses as a threat to preserving a therapeutic relationship. The conundrum remains of "how close is too close?" for therapist-client relationships; the World Wide Web has enabled our society to be connected and updated like never before, however, it does not seem that complete privacy for professionals in practice is an attainable goal. Once again (and like in most "grey area" situations), our clinical judgement is heavily weighed upon.