I\u2019ve been writing, reading and thinking a lot about the use of text messaging in counselling situations.\u00a0\u00a0 Some of the articles I referred to in the past two blog posts discussed the need to develop policies and procedures for preserving privacy and confidentiality in text messages. \u00a0<\/p>\n
Let\u2019s start at the beginning – the CCPA Code of Ethics states \u201cCounselling relationships and information resulting therefrom are kept confidential\u201d & \u201cCounsellors follow all additional ethical guidelines for services delivered by telephone, teleconferencing, and the Internet, including appropriate precautions regarding confidentiality, security\u2026\u201d.\u00a0 (Sections B2 & B17)<\/p>\n
I don\u2019t have the answers. Just some thoughts about the issue as a whole.<\/p>\n
I have an iPhone and Apple tells me my messages have end-to-end encryption, so \u201cyour messages stay safe and private\u201d.\u00a0 Likely that\u2019s true of other devices as well.<\/p>\n
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What about the billing? \u00a0My monthly billing lists numbers called or texted to and the dates.\u00a0 Who sees your bills?\u00a0 Who sees your client\u2019s bills?<\/p>\n
Let\u2019s look at a common scenario.\u00a0 I bet you\u2019ve had this happen to you.\u00a0 You are in a meeting, your phone is on the table in sleep mode and then a text message preview shows on the screen.\u00a0 Anyone sitting near you can read the message and whom it\u2019s from [well, they could if they have really good eyesight].\u00a0 It might be \u201cmeet u @ 6\u201d or \u201cLOL\u201d or, maybe, something even more personal. Maybe it\u2019s not a big deal, but if the message was from your drug treatment program or your counsellor? That\u2019s where it gets a bit tricky.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
So what can we do?\u00a0<\/p>\n
We could choose to limit what we communicate about via text message. \u00a0One counsellor\u2019s intake form says – \u201cAny communication by unsecured means (i.e., non-encrypted email, text messaging, instant messaging, Twitter, etc.) will only be used for scheduling or for clarifying questions related to the services being provided. If I send any messages involving personal information to my counsellor without encryption, I agree to waive my privilege to confidentiality\u201d.\u00a0<\/p>\n
We can teach our clients how to take steps to preserve their own privacy and confidentiality.\u00a0 For example \u2013 changing the settings for text message previews, not recording text messages, setting passwords, and maybe even purchasing an app that further protects their privacy.<\/p>\n
There are any number of apps that are designed to keep your text messages locked and secure or to encrypt them.\u00a0 One commenter on a \u2018Secure your text messages\u2019 site said \u201cI can only think of three reasons you would need this level of security.\u00a0 Cheating on your spouse, drug dealing or you\u2019re a spy\u201d.\u00a0\u00a0 Well, at least, counselling wasn\u2019t the first thing they thought of which may offer a modicum of privacy for our clients.\u00a0 Though clients may find others looking at them askance and wondering what they are up to!<\/p>\n
Like any of the emerging technologies we are playing catch up on how to incorporate text messaging into our practices in a meaningful and safe way. \u00a0So let\u2019s keep the dialogue open.<\/p>\n