Do therapists look up their clients?

This is a common question that many therapy clients have. There are understandable concerns around privacy and confidentiality when seeing a therapist. Looking up a client online could be seen as violating those boundaries. However, there are also legitimate reasons why a therapist may look up some information about a client online. Let’s explore this complex issue in more depth.

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Why a therapist might look up a client

There are a few main reasons why a ethical therapist may look up a client online:

To verify information the client has shared – A therapist may do a quick search to confirm basic details like the client’s workplace or educational background. This can help them better understand the client’s life context.
To assess safety risks – If a therapist has reason to believe a client may be a danger to themselves or others, looking up public information may be part of evaluating that risk.
To prepare for a first session – Some therapists like to have a general sense of who a new client is before meeting them. Looking up basic biographical details can help with this.

To get insight into the client’s interests – Understanding a client’s hobbies, views, and personality via public information can help build rapport.

In all of these cases, a responsible therapist would limit their search to readily available public information only. Private social media accounts or restricted sources of information would be off limits without the client’s consent.

Ethical concerns around looking up clients

There are also understandable concerns that clients may have around a therapist looking them up online. These include:

Privacy violations – A therapist viewing private online information without consent could feel like a boundary violation.
Bias and assumptions – Relying on online information could bias the therapist’s view of the client or lead to false assumptions.
Damaging the therapeutic relationship – A client who discovers their therapist looked them up extensively online may feel betrayed and lose trust.

That’s why most ethical codes for therapists emphasize the importance of transparency. Therapists should discuss with clients what types of searches, if any, they conduct online and obtain consent whenever feasible.

Best practices around looking up clients

The American Psychological Association (APA) and other professional organizations provide some best practices for therapists in this area. These include:

Only look up information available to the general public. Do not access private online sources or try to “friend” the client on social media.

Restrict searches to basic biographical details that relate directly to treatment goals.
Whenever possible, disclose to clients that you may conduct basic online searches and explain why this could benefit treatment.
If you discover sensitive information accidentally, consider how to discuss this ethically with the client.

Document your rationale for online searches in the client’s treatment records.
Reassess periodically whether online searches remain clinically relevant and in the client’s best interests.

Following guidelines like these can help balance a therapist’s duty to provide effective treatment with a client’s right to privacy.

How often do therapists actually look up clients?

There are no comprehensive statistics on how prevalent it is for therapists to look up clients online. But some limited surveys provide an idea:

A 2010 survey found that about 25% of psychologists reported searching for client information online at least once.
A more recent 2019 survey put the percentage at 34% of psychologists who said they had searched online for client information.

Therapists 30 or younger were more than twice as likely to conduct online searches compared to those over 50, according to the 2019 survey.
One survey specific to marriage and family therapists found about 70% reported looking up clients online at least on occasion.

So while it does not appear most therapists routinely search for clients online, a significant minority do access public information about clients at times. The practice seems to be increasing along with growing digital footprints.

Should you ask a therapist if they’ve looked you up?

Given these realities, is it a good idea to directly ask your therapist if they’ve looked you up online? Potential benefits and drawbacks include:

Potential benefits of asking

Increased transparency – It opens a discussion about boundaries and disclosure.
Peace of mind – You’ll know whether your therapist has searched for you online.

Strengthened informed consent – You can better understand and consent to your therapist’s policies around online searches.
Validation of concerns – If your therapist has looked you up extensively, your concerns will be taken seriously.

Potential drawbacks of asking

Therapist defensiveness – Your therapist may feel accused of unethical conduct and become defensive.

Damaged therapeutic relationship – Questions of mistrust can damage the client-therapist bond.
Unnecessary concern – Your therapist likely has not looked you up or has done so ethically. Asking may create worry where there should be none.
Privacy preferences – Your therapist may prefer not to discuss their own online activities just as you would not want yours discussed.

How to ask your therapist respectfully

If you do want to broach this topic, there are respectful ways to do so that minimize defensiveness or damage to the therapeutic relationship:

Frame it as curiosity, not accusation – “I’m curious if you ever look clients up online?”
Discuss your own privacy boundaries and preferences.

Ask your therapist to explain their policies and reassure you.
Explain your concerns and desire for transparency.
Focus on moving forward – Don’t dwell on whether they have looked you up in the past.

An ethical therapist should welcome these open conversations and be able to provide sufficient reassurance without revealing their own privacy boundaries.

What to do if your therapist has looked you up

Finding out your therapist has searched for you online can be concerning. But try not to overreact. Consider these constructive steps if it happens:

Ask why they looked you up and voice your concerns. There may be legitimate reasons like evaluating safety risks.

Clarify what sources of information the therapist accessed. Public posts vs private messages make a big difference.
Discuss what they learned and how this might bias their view of you.
Reiterate your privacy boundaries and ask that those wishes be respected.

Request they document when and why they looked you up.
If violations were minor, move forward with clear policies in place.
For serious violations, consider reporting to an ethics board or changing therapists.

With discussion and renewed commitments to boundaries, the therapeutic relationship can often be repaired and strengthened.

Key takeaways on therapists looking up clients

Some key points for clients to keep in mind around this issue include:

It’s not uncommon for therapists to look up some basic client information online.

Clear professional ethics exist around protecting client privacy and transparency.
You have a right to know what information your therapist accesses about you online.
Most concerning behaviors can be addressed through open communication and resetting boundaries.

A therapist who violates clear privacy boundaries is unethical and should be avoided.

While technology creates new gray areas, good therapists will navigate these issues collaboratively with clients, centered on trust and consent. With open communication, privacy concerns can usually be sufficiently addressed in therapy.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it illegal for a therapist to look up their client?

It is generally not illegal for therapists to look up clients online, as long as they only access publicly available information. However, extensive searches using private sources without consent could potentially cross legal lines. Therapists are better off sticking to basic biographical searches and always informing clients.

Do therapists Google their clients before the first session?

Some therapists do basic web searches before an initial session to get background information on a new client. However, this practice is controversial. Clients are better served if therapists refrain from searching online before meeting clients in person. Otherwise they risk biasing their impressions.

What are the ethics around therapists Googling clients?

Professional ethics state therapists should only access information available to the general public. Private online sources should not be accessed without client consent. Therapists have a duty to inform clients about their policies regarding online searches and document their rationale. Extensive searches unrelated to treatment goals are unethical.

What should I do if I’m uncomfortable with my therapist looking me up?

You should share your concerns and clarify your therapist’s policies around accessing client information online. Request they disclose and document any searches related to you. If you feel your privacy has been violated, you can file an ethical complaint or seek out a new therapist who better respects your boundaries.

Do marriage counselors look up clients online?

Marriage counselors and family therapists do sometimes access public information about clients online. Surveys indicate over 70% of marriage counselors report looking up clients on occasion. However, ethical standards about consent and transparency apply equally to marriage counselors.