What about Confidentiality?
I make
every recommended effort of the ACA and NBCC to mitigate risk of
potential breaches of confidentiality. Your personal information is encrypted and sent to me via a secure
server. All information is stored securely. It is kept confidential
unless you provide a signed release of records to a third party. I take my responsibility to protect your privacy and confidentiality very seriously and do everything in my power to safeguard our interactions.
Talking to a therapist by phone or online can be as safe as talking to one in person. Both are confidential and neither is 100% perfect.
Insurance and Confidentiality: There was a time when utilizing insurance coverage had little or no impact on a client's privacy, whether one is receiving face-to-face or online counseling. This is no longer true. Today managed care policies typically require therapists to submit regular reports that include very personal information, to determine if treatment is "medically necessary and appropriate." Most counselors feel uncomfortable with this situation, as there is no way of knowing how or with whom this information is stored.
Given today's realities, your personal information may be more secure in a professional online counseling situation which does not utilize insurance reimbursement.