Social Media Policy

Social media can be a great way to engage online with people, ideas, and topics of interest. Hold Hope Counselling & Wellness has the following social media pages:

IG:     @holdhopecounselling

fb:     /facebookholdhopecounselling

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/hold-hope-counselling-wellness/about/

For safety, confidentiality, and privacy, I would like to outline my policies regarding the use of social media as a Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC). With my clients, I establish a therapeutic relationship, which is a professional relationship where ethical, professional, and therapeutic boundaries are in place, and these ethical, professional, and therapeutic boundaries should be established and followed. 

Please read this Social Media Policy to understand where I stand in regards to my use of social media, and how it guides me as a mental health professional with an online presence. If you have any questions about this policy, please bring them to our therapy appointment, so we can talk about them in detail.

If you are suicidal, please call your local 24-hour crisis line, or 911 or emergency services. You can also check out my mental health resources page for more.

Mental health professionals may use social media for many reasons, including, but not limited to the intent of marketing, education, and advocacy. There are benefits as well as risks to engaging in social media where mental health professionals are active. 

  • Following a social media page created by a mental health professional, therapist, or counsellor is not psychotherapy. It is not a replacement for therapy, or a therapeutic relationship, nor is it a substitute for mental health and/or medical care. 

  • Following a therapist on social media does not constitute a relationship outside of therapy. 

  • The information contained in posts is general information offered for educational purposes only. A social media post does not constitute professional advice.

  • Please consult your physician, or mental health provider regarding advice, or support for your health and wellbeing. 

Following and Friending

I will not ask you to follow, or engage with me through social media. 

  • I will not follow, or accept friend requests from any former, or current clients through social media. If this has unintentionally happened, I will unfollow without delay, and without giving any notice as soon as it comes to my attention.

  • You are welcome to follow my professional accounts. However, please understand that you risk breaking your own confidentiality by following, liking, re-posting, commenting, and engaging with my accounts on social media. 

  • If there are things from your social media sites that you think would be helpful to you, or to our therapeutic conversations, please bring them to our therapy appointment, so we can explore them fully.

Messaging

Please do not message me on social media sites, as I do not use these channels for communication. These channels are not confidential.

  • Commenting, or "DM—direct messaging" is not confidential, and is another risk to your privacy. 

  • Please speak with me during a therapy appointment to discuss any questions, or concerns related to your sessions and/or our work together. 


Search Engines, Listings, Directories, and Websites

My name, or Hold Hope Counselling & Wellness may appear on various search engines, listings, directories, and/or websites. 

  • I will not seek, nor do I expect any endorsements, requests, or ratings from former, or current clients through these online social media networking platforms. 

  • I will not respond to any comments on these sites.

  • I will not conduct any searches of any client unless the client has given consent, and we would only do so during a scheduled session, and only for reasons that support therapy.

Thank you for your attention and for taking the time to review my Social Media Policy. Social media is ever changing, so at times I may need to update this policy. If so, I will upload the revised policy here on my website and inform you of the changes by email. 

If you have questions about any of these policies, or about our potential interactions on the Internet, please let me know so that we can discuss them.