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Communication & Social Media Policy

1. Purpose of This Policy

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This policy outlines how communication occurs at Authentic Self Psychology, including email, social media, and contact between sessions. It ensures transparency around expectations, safeguards your privacy, and upholds ethical and legal obligations under the Psychology Board of Australia, AAPi Code of Ethics, and the AHPRA Social Media Policy (2024).

If you have any questions, please contact us at:
admin@authenticselfpsychology.com.au

 

2. Contact Between Sessions

 

Support Between Sessions
As a private outpatient practice, we provide care during scheduled sessions only. We are unable to offer therapeutic advice or support between appointments. This helps us maintain clear boundaries and prioritise safety, quality, and equity of access across our caseload.

 

What is appropriate between sessions?

  • You may email to cancel or reschedule appointments

  • You may use the “Session Prep Form” (included in reminders) to share updates in advance

  • Your psychologist will review any updates in session

 

We cannot respond to:

  • Therapeutic content or updates that require clinical feedback

  • Crisis or emergency situations

  • Requests for unscheduled support

 

For urgent support, please contact:

 

3. Email Communication

 

Use of Email
We offer email as a secure method for administrative matters only. Please do not use email to communicate therapeutic content or urgent concerns.

 

What email can be used for:

  • Appointment changes

  • Administrative questions

  • File access requests

 

Email risks and responsibilities:

  • Email is not encrypted end-to-end

  • Emails may be delayed, misdirected or tone may not be clear

  • Emails are monitored by administrative support and responses are typically within 1–3 business days. The inbox is not monitored after hours or during weekends/public holidays.

  • Email correspondence forms part of your clinical record and is retained securely for a minimum of 7 years

  • You may request to update your email at any time

 

We will:

  • Verify your email address before sending confidential documents

  • Avoid putting personal information in subject lines

  • Send any sensitive documents as encrypted files and provide the password via separate communication

 

You are responsible for:

  • Notifying us of any change to your email address

  • Protecting your own device and access

  • Letting us know if you do not want particular information shared via email

 

4. Social Media Engagement

 

Platforms
Our practice may post content via Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn to share mental health resources and affirming content. These accounts are for professional updates only.

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Boundaries
To protect confidentiality and avoid dual relationships:

  • We do not accept friend/follow requests from clients

  • We do not follow clients on any platform

  • Please do not message us through social media

  • You may view our social media without engaging. If you choose to like, comment, or follow using your name, this may reveal a therapeutic relationship.

  • If you wish to share online content, feel free to bring it into a therapy session where we can reflect on it together.


5. Reviews
You may find our practice listed on public review sites. These are not controlled or endorsed by us. We never solicit reviews or testimonials we cannot accept or publish testimonials due to national ethical guidelines.


6. Final Notes

  • This policy is reviewed annually and updated in line with current ethical and legal standards

  • You can find all clinic policies at: authenticselfpsychology.com.au/clinic-policies

  • If you need help understanding any part of this document or require it in an alternative format, please let us know

 

Thank you for respecting these boundaries. They support a safe, affirming, and professional therapeutic environment.

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