Psychological Assistant Marketing

[CaliforniaPA]

I have just become a licensed Psychological Assistant as I finish earning my PsyD. I am having trouble finding specific ethical protocol about how I can market myself. The Ethics Code is clear that I cannot have my own website (I am listed on my supervisor's website as his PA). How have you ethically marketed yourself in various forms as a PA re: social media, Linked In, and other forms?

---

Members don't see this ad.

 

[Sanman]

IF the supervisor is taking a cut of your profits, why are they not doing the marketing for you? That is what you are paying them for.

 

[CaliforniaPA]

IF the supervisor is taking a cut of your profits, why are they not doing the marketing for you? That is what you are paying them for.

Thanks for responding! They do a portion of marketing on my behalf, but I’m hoping to learn what marketing I may ethically participate in myself. Do you happen to have any experience with this?

 

[Sanman]

Thanks for responding! They do a portion of marketing on my behalf, but I’m hoping to learn what marketing I may ethically participate in myself. Do you happen to have any experience with this?

I have experience with marketing and being a psych assistant/post-doc, but not as it pertains to CA law. I would not spend much on marketing a company you do not own in any way. That is throwing money in the toilet.

 

[CaliforniaPA]

I have experience with marketing and being a psych assistant/post-doc, but not as it pertains to CA law. I would not spend much on marketing a company you do not own in any way. That is throwing money in the toilet.

I agree! I'm not looking to pay for a service since there are so many blog/social media/other options free of charge. I'm more wondering about the ethics of creating a psychological social media page (I see PA colleagues doing this, as it seems to serve as implicit promotion which may be the way forward?), promoting this update through Linked In, etc. I feel the ethics code is not specific enough in forbidding a PA website to cover all the social media options available to therapists so I'm hoping to receive some advice.

 

[AbnormalPsych]

Not sure, but as an unlicensed person, move cautiously. I have seen some people in this state get in trouble as psych assistants for misrepresenting themselves, credentials, etc.... I know that isn't your question, but the board there seems to take this stuff seriously from disciplanary actions I have seen them publish and disseminate. Maybe your time and effort would be better spent knocking out the exams and hours as quick as possible to get your license?

 

[foreverbull]

Check with the board if you’re lucky enough to get them to respond. I knew of someone who was a postdoc in CA several years ago who had a designated page on her supervisor’s private practice website that specified the her credentials, supervision status, and her registration number. But I didn’t go this route, so I can’t say for sure what you’re allowed to do. Look into CA ethics on marketing rules—might be in textbooks or you’d have to dig into laws and regs. Definitely do not take someone’s word for it on here, though—CA BOP is strict when it comes to representation/marketing for pre-licensure folks.

 

[Spydra]

I wonder if this question could be directed to your supervisor. It seems more than appropriate to ask about marketing options you're allowed to do that are ethical and perhaps would be linked to the materials they use to market their practice already.

 

[deleted343839]

I wonder if this question could be directed to your supervisor. It seems more than appropriate to ask about marketing options you're allowed to do that are ethical and perhaps would be linked to the materials they use to market their practice already.

This. I would make sure that you are up-front and collaborative about any marketing activity that affects the practice. Bringing new business to the practice should be a win-win for you and your supervisor, but you need to be on the same page.