LinkedIn invitation ACCEPT??

[Phipps]

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Members don't see this ad.

I just got an invite (again) and I am unsure as to whether accept or not. I am thinking (and this applies to facebook and other social media as well), what happens if I hopefully one day will be a psychologist and practice...and clients/patients find access to my sides, even it is only through as friend of his/hers. What happens to my privacy/our therapeutic relationship???

Any thoughts?

PS: I once accepted a LindedIn and got ads for all kinds of things...not a good idea maybe. It really seems to link one with a lot of people and more

 

[AcronymAllergy]

If you're able to maintain appropriate boundaries (e.g., don't "friend" your clients on Facebook, LinkedIn, etc.), then while it does make you more visible, it doesn't necessarily have to be a problem. I know quite a few mental health and medical professionals who have social and professional networking site accounts.

 

[Phipps]

If you're able to maintain appropriate boundaries (e.g., don't "friend" your clients on Facebook, LinkedIn, etc.), then while it does make you more visible, it doesn't necessarily have to be a problem. I know quite a few mental health and medical professionals who have social and professional networking site accounts.

Okay. That makes sense. Tanks. I am also thinking, and that is what I am a little nervous about, what if a LinkedIn friend as a friend who is a client of mine and such scenarios...but I guess, there is never a 100% guarantee.

 

[AcronymAllergy]

Okay. That makes sense. Tanks. I am also thinking, and that is what I am a little nervous about, what if a LinkedIn friend as a friend who is a client of mine and such scenarios...but I guess, there is never a 100% guarantee.

It's always possible, and that's how you'd like show up in their network. However, you can generally keep your privacy settings limited to allow only your direct friends to see certain types of information. Also, given that LinkedIn is largely a professional site, with it specifically you probably won't have much on your profile there that would be inappropriate for a client to know.

 

[psyman]

In related news: I have my Facebook account as private and do not allow anyone to search for me other than my friends. Therefore, I don't show up in search results. I don't even want clients to see my Facebook profile picture.