Social Media Policy

Effective Date: May 2025
Applies to: All clients and members of the public engaging with the professional social media accounts or personal social media profiles of practitioners at Angela Chadwick Psychology.

As psychologists, we have ethical obligations when conducting ourselves on the internet. We are committed to protecting your confidentiality, maintaining professional boundaries, and upholding the ethical standards set by the Psychology Board of Australia, AHPRA, and relevant professional codes of conduct. This social media Policy outlines how we manage online interactions with current, past, or potential clients on social media platforms.

1. No Therapeutic Relationship via Social Media

We do not provide psychological services or advice via social media. Social media platforms are not secure or private and are not appropriate channels for therapeutic communication, emergencies, or clinical support.

For all professional matters, please contact us through our official practice email or phone number.

2. Friending and Following on Social Media

To maintain professional boundaries:

  • We do not accept friend or follow requests from current or former clients on personal social media accounts.

  • You are welcome to follow our professional practice accounts (e.g. Instagram, Facebook) for general updates, mental health resources, and news. However, this does not constitute a therapeutic relationship.

3. Comments, Likes, and Interactions

  • You are free to like or comment on our public posts. However, please be aware that such interaction may compromise your confidentiality or inadvertently disclose that you are or were a client.

  • At no time do we respond to direct comments or messages that relate to personal therapeutic matters or appointments via social media.

  • Comments containing clinical or sensitive personal information may be deleted to protect your privacy.

 

4. Tagging and Sharing

  • We ask that clients do not tag the practice or practitioners in personal posts, especially those disclosing their client status.

  • If you share our content, please do so mindfully and avoid disclosing any private therapeutic details in public or shared posts.

5. Endorsements and Testimonials

Under AHPRA advertising guidelines, clients are not permitted to leave testimonials or reviews related to treatment outcomes or therapeutic services. We will take steps to remove any testimonial content that may breach these guidelines.

6. Use of Social Media Content

Content shared on our practice’s social media channels is for general informational purposes only and should not be interpreted as psychological advice. It is not a substitute for professional mental health care, diagnosis, or treatment. You rely on any information on social media posted by any individual including third parties at your own risk.

7. Breaches and Confidentiality

We take privacy seriously. Any breach of this policy, or the publication of sensitive client content on our social platforms, will be managed in line with professional and legal obligations, including the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) and the APS Code of Ethics.

This policy is compliant with the Australian Health Practitioners Registration Authority (AHPRA) Social Media Policy (2014), the Australian Psychological Society (APS) Code of Ethics, and Section 133 of the National Law concerning Advertising of Registered Healthcare Services. If you have questions about this policy or wish to clarify any of its terms, please contact us directly at admin@acpsychology.net.au.