Electronic Communication Policy
The purpose of this policy is to clarify the use, limitations, and risks of electronic communication during your treatment. Many forms of electronic communication can put your privacy at risk. My goal is to communicate with you in ways that safeguard therapeutic boundaries, assure the security and confidentiality of your treatment, and are compliant with ethics and laws. Please read my policy carefully, and if you have any questions, please discuss them with me.
Email and Text Communications
Please be aware that if you prefer to email or text I will do so only with your permission, and only for administrative purposes. Therefore, email exchanges and text messages with me should be limited to things like setting and changing appointment times, notifying me if you are running late to a session, and simple billing matters.
Due to limitations in security, please do not email or text me about clinical matters. All emails are stored in the logs of Internet service providers and/or employers. While it is unlikely that these logs will ever be reviewed, they are nevertheless available to be read by system administrator(s). If you choose to communicate via email, please be aware that any emails received from you, and any responses sent to you, become part of your clinical record.
If you need to discuss a clinical matter with me, please call me directly, or wait to discuss it in your next session. The telephone and face-to-face context are the most secure modes of communication.
Website
I do have a professional website this is available to provide information about my practice, as well as to educate and provide resources. If you have questions or feedback about any of the information I share on my website , please discuss them during your appointment time with me.
Social Media
As a professional, I do participate on various social networks like Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram, and LinkedIn. However, due to privacy practices I am unable to engage with any of my current or previous clients through these social media platforms as casual social contact could create significant security risks for clients and have the potential to compromise the professional relationship. Other standards include:
You clinician does not accept friend requests from current or previous clients on social networking sites.
If your clinician discovers that she/he has accidentally established an online relationship with you, she/he will cancel that relationship.
If you have an online presence, there is a possibility that you may encounter your clinician’s online presence by accident. If that occurs, please feel free to discuss it with your clinician during your time together.
If you contact your clinician on social networking sites, your clinician will not respond.
Your clinicians will not “follow” or review their clients’ personal online social networking activities. However, if there are aspects of your online life that you wish to share with your clinician, please bring those to session with you where they can be discussed together.
Web Searches and Online Reviews
I will not use web searches to gather information about you without your permission as I believe this violates your privacy rights. However, I understand that you might choose to gather information about our clinicians in this way. There is a lot of information available about individuals on the internet, much of which may actually be known to that person and some of which may be inaccurate or unknown. If you encounter any information about me through web searches, please feel free to discuss this with your clinician during your session.
Recently it has become popular for clients to review their health care providers on various websites. Unfortunately, mental health professionals are not allowed to respond to such comments, or correct any errors, because of confidentiality restrictions. If you encounter such reviews of your clinical, please feel free to share them with us so we can address any concerns.
Emergency Assistance
Please do not contact your clinician via chat or messaging on sites such as Facebook, LinkdIn, Twitter, etc. Not only are these forms of communication not secure, your message might not be received in a timely fashion or may not be received at all. Should you need help or require contact between sessions, please contact your clinician via telephone. If you have an emergency, please call 911 or go to your nearest emergency room and ask for the psychiatrist on call.
Acknowledgment of Receipt and Permissions
I understand that I may change or revoke any or all of my permissions at any time in the future, simply by discussing it with my clinician, Michalina Zell, LCSW and signing a new Electronic Communication Policy. I have read and understand the Electronic Communication Policy. I agree to the statements herein. This document was discussed with me and any questions I had were answered fully.