SOCIAL MEDIA POLICY

The following information outlines our office’s policies related to use of Social Media. If you have any questions about this policy, please ask your provider.  As technology develops, the most recent revision of this policy will be located on our website. 

Friending, Connecting, and Following on Social Media

It is our policy not to accept "friend" or "connection" requests from any current or former client on any of our clinician's personal social networking sites such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, etc. because it may compromise your confidentiality and blur the boundaries of your relationship. 

Atlanta Psychological Services has professional Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Google My Business, and Instagram pages/accounts. You are welcome to "follow" us on any of these professional pages where we post psychology information, counseling information, and therapeutic content. However, please do so only if you are comfortable with the general public knowing your name is attached to Atlanta Psychological Services. 

Please refrain from contacting us using social media messaging systems such as Facebook Messenger or Twitter. These methods have insufficient security, and we do not watch them closely. We would not want to miss an important message from you.

Business review sites 

The American Psychological Association’s Ethics Code prohibits a psychologist from soliciting testimonials from clients. You may see APS and/or your specific provider on various review sites. Many of these sites comb search engines for business listings and automatically add listings regardless of whether the business has added itself to the site. If you should find APS or other related listings on any of these sites, please know that such listings are NOT a request for a testimonial, rating, or endorsement from you as a client of APS.

Location-Based Services 

If you used location-based services on your mobile phone, such as obtaining directions via GPS (e.g., any mapping application, such as Google Maps, WAZE, etc.), you may be compromising your confidentiality, as other could know you are coming to our office. “Checking in” on any electronic application (e.g., Facebook, Instagram) could similarly compromise your confidentiality as a client at this office. 

Emailing, texting, messaging, and other electronic interactions

Please do not use messaging on Social Media Networking sites such as Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn to contact your provider. Do not use Wall postings, @replies, or other means of engaging with your provider, as this could compromise your confidentiality. Your provider will not respond to any electronic postings or other electronic communications from you unless you have provided written consent for those methods to be used. 

If you need to contact your provider between sessions, the best way to do so is by calling our office or by using the method agreed upon between you and your provider, and as outlined in your consent forms. 

Please see our Information, Authorization & Consent to TeleMental Health form for more detailed information about electronic communications. 

Effective 9-1-20