Intake Paperwork + Social Media Policy

Let’s face it, your clients look you up online. Often, clients will do this before they even set foot in your office. This means it’s your responsibility to identify your social media policy and establish your boundaries with any clients in a timely manner. I would even suggest discussing your social media policy with clients in your first session. By prioritizing this conversation from the start, you are taking proactive measures to protect the parts of your personal life you might choose to share online while simultaneously taking care to create a trusting and healthy relationship with your clients. This is a critical component of any private therapy practice, especially in a solo therapy practice or cash-pay therapy practice, where boundaries and professionalism help shape the client experience from day one. When starting or building a private practice, it’s essential to think through how your digital presence aligns with your clinical work and how it affects the perception of your services.

Include the Policy in Your Intake Paperwork

Another important measure to consider is the inclusion of your social media policy in your intake packet. This way, your clients aren’t offended if you decline a friend/follow request, and you are giving yourself the opportunity to be explicit about your protocol by having it clearly stated in writing. Your intake paperwork should be thoughtfully developed when you begin the process of starting a private practice.

Consider Visibility and Boundaries

Many therapists launching their practice, especially those navigating an out-of-network therapy practice, don’t always consider how necessary a strong social media policy is in the beginning.
But it’s a key part of ensuring boundaries are respected, especially if you plan to do online marketing for therapists, which naturally increases your digital visibility.
As a result, more people (including current and former clients) will come across your online content.

It’s helpful to take time to clarify how your public-facing online presence will interact with your client-facing policies.
For example, will you allow clients to follow your professional Instagram account? Will you block clients who try to engage with your posts? These are questions worth answering clearly in your private practice policies.

Sample Social Media Policy

The following is my own private practice policy, which can serve as a blueprint  for you to work off of in deciding your own boundaries:

Due to the importance of your confidentiality and the importance of minimizing dual relationships, I do not accept friend or contact requests from current or former clients on any social networking site (Facebook, LinkedIn, etc). I believe that adding clients as friends or contacts on these sites can compromise your confidentiality and our respective privacy. It may also blur the boundaries of our therapeutic relationship. If you have questions about this, please bring them up when we meet, and we can talk more about it.

Marketing and Ethics Go Hand in Hand

As a therapist in private practice, your credibility and clinical integrity are tied to the policies you uphold. Your marketing for therapists strategy may encourage authentic content and sharing your values online, but that doesn’t mean you need to let clients into your personal life on social media. That’s why every marketing guide for therapists should also include a section about ethical boundaries in online spaces. If you’re using therapist-approved marketing strategies, it’s a good idea to align them with your clinical documentation and onboarding process. Make sure your intake paperwork reflects the tone of your brand and reinforces what you share in your online marketing for therapists platforms. Consistency helps build trust and reinforces professionalism.

Set the Tone for a Healthy, Professional Practice

Creating and communicating a clear social media policy is one of the most overlooked—yet essential—steps when starting a private therapy practice. It not only protects your personal boundaries but also supports the ethical foundation of your therapy practice. Whether you're just beginning to build your private practice or looking to grow your therapy practice in a sustainable way, thoughtful policies help set the tone for every therapeutic relationship.

As you continue to market your private practice, invest in therapist-approved marketing strategies that align with your values, clinical boundaries, and professional goals. From intake forms to your digital footprint, every detail matters. Having a solid roadmap allows you to serve your clients well—while protecting your peace, privacy, and long-term success as a therapist.

This article was written by Kelley Stevens, LMFT. Kelley is a private practice business coach for therapists. Kelley specializes in helping therapists launch a cash-pay private practice from the ground up.

Frequently Asked Questions About Social Media Policies for Therapists

1. Should therapists include a social media policy in their intake paperwork?

Yes. Including the policy in your intake documents gives clients clear expectations before problems arise. It also helps explain why you may decline connection requests, comments, tags, or other online interactions.

2. Can therapists accept friend or follow requests from clients?

Therapists should be cautious about accepting requests from current or former clients. Online connections may reveal private information, create dual relationships, blur professional boundaries, or unintentionally affect client confidentiality.

3. Should clients be allowed to follow a therapist’s professional social media account?

This depends on the therapist’s boundaries and professional policies. Some therapists allow clients to view public educational content but discourage direct engagement. Whatever you decide should be clearly explained and applied consistently.

4. When should therapists discuss their social media policy with clients?

The policy should be introduced during the intake process and discussed early in the therapeutic relationship. Bringing it up in the first session gives clients an opportunity to ask questions and helps prevent misunderstandings later.

5. What should a therapist’s social media policy include?

The policy should explain how you handle friend requests, follows, messages, comments, tags, reviews, online searches, and interactions with current or former clients. It should also clarify that social media is not an appropriate platform for urgent clinical communication.

6. How can therapists protect their privacy while marketing online?

Use separate personal and professional accounts, review privacy settings regularly, limit personal disclosures, and avoid sharing information that could affect client relationships. Your marketing content should reflect your values without giving clients unrestricted access to your private life.