Therapists, counselors, and other mental health professionals are not exempt from such popular means of dating but have little to no guidance for how they should be utilizing these forums, and still remain ethical in their practice.
Are dating apps bad for your mental health?
Though the study didnt establish a causal relationship, dating app use can contribute to anxiety and depression, says Soltana Nosrati, LCSW, a social worker at Novant Health. Dating apps can also hurt peoples self-esteem if they take the rejection or lack of matches personally.
Theres no ethics code that explicitly forbids accepting such a request, but guidelines from the American Psychological Association and experts in mental health ethics recommend against having clients as Facebook friends. People often use social media accounts to share very revealing information about themselves.
Do therapists look at your Facebook?
A 2016 study, for example, found that most patients do indeed look up their therapists online. As a result, the majority of therapists have taken steps to limit the information that is available about them online. Examples include adjusting their social networking settings to private.
Can therapists be friends with their patients?
Client-therapist friendships can be unethical, according to codes of ethics from many bodies that govern therapists, including the American Psychological Association [APA]. By becoming friends with a client, a therapist can risk disciplinary action from governing bodies or losing licensure.