Social Media Policy
Dr Laura Williams
Social Media Policy
Updated May 2023
It is important for clients to be aware that a substantial part of the professional activities carried out by Dr Laura Williams are in the public domain. Alongside clinical work, Dr Laura Williams has a public profile as a media contributor, writer, and expert commentator.
Part of the public profile maintained by Dr Laura Williams involves having an active presence on social media. Dr Laura Williams maintains a professional public profile on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
Social Media Content
The purpose of the professional social media accounts held by Dr Laura Williams is primarily to share psychological information and ideas which may be of interest to followers. Dr Laura Williams seeks to create and share content that uses psychological expertise to empower followers. Social media accounts are also used to promote awareness of the professional activities and services of Dr Laura Williams, including therapeutic activities and services.
Dr Laura Williams will not share any identifying, specific or detailed information about any client, client group or clinical activity on her social media accounts.
Dr Laura Williams will not confirm or acknowledge any individual or group as a therapy client on her social media accounts.
Dr Laura Williams aims to be considered and sensitive around social media content, and to minimise risk of her social media posts undermining professionalism and trustworthiness in any way. However, should a client feel that the therapeutic process is in any way affected by the social media activity of Dr Laura Williams, they are asked to raise this.
Social Media Advertising
Dr Laura Williams sometimes uses Facebook advertising and Instagram sponsored posts to promote services. Clients are encouraged to hide promoted posts from Dr Laura Williams should the appearance of such posts be unwelcome.
Social Media Engagement
In order to maintain confidentiality, Dr Laura Williams will not acknowledge any individual as a past or present therapy client on social media. Dr Laura Williams recommends that clients engaging on social media do not refer directly to having received services from Dr Laura Williams if they wish to keep that information private. Dr Laura Williams is not responsible for information shared by clients in comments on social media accounts for Dr Laura Williams.
Clients are welcomed to follow Dr Laura Williams’s professional pages on social media if they would like to do that. Clients who do not wish to see social media content from Dr Laura Williams are advised not to follow Dr Laura Williams on social media.
Dr Laura Williams will never knowingly follow the account of a client on social media. There may be occasions where Dr Laura Williams encounters posts by or related to clients on social media, for example through mutual connections, retweets and other links. Dr Laura Williams will never knowingly engage with any social media content posted by or in relation to a past or present therapy client. The exception to this is if a client were to comment on a social media post by Dr Laura Williams. Dr Laura Williams routinely takes time to like all suitable comments on social media, and would not wish to single out and potentially identify clients by not acknowledging their comments in keeping with her usual style of responding.
Clients are free to share any content posted by Dr Laura Williams to their own social media accounts. However, clients are advised to be aware that this generates a link between their account and Dr Laura Williams which will be visible.
Abusive Online Behaviour
Dr Laura Williams does not tolerate bullying, abuse, or threatening behaviour on her social media accounts.
Dr Laura Williams does not tolerate inappropriate sexual language or comments on her social media accounts. Inappropriate or abusive posts will be removed, and the account from which such posts are made will be blocked from the social media accounts of Dr Laura Williams. Social media posts or messages that are deemed threatening, violent or to incite hatred against Dr Laura Williams, or any other individual or group, will be reported to the police.
Contact Through Social Media
Dr Laura Williams strongly recommends that those wishing to enquire about or engage professional psychology services provided by Dr Laura Williams do not make an enquiry through the social media accounts of Dr Laura Williams, as privacy cannot be guaranteed and social media inboxes are not routinely checked.
Dr Laura Williams requests that all enquiries and contact pertaining to professional services is done through the contact form at www.drlaurawilliams.com or via e-mail at [email protected]
Dr Laura Williams is not able to provide a crisis service. Direct messages and private messages to social media accounts are not checked regularly, and are not set up to effectively respond to those requiring crisis support. Dr Laura Williams strongly advises those who are suicidal or in crisis, or who require urgent attention in relation to their mental health to notify their GP surgery. The following services may also be contacted:
NHS 24 – 111
This service is available to give help and advice if your GP surgery is closed and you cannot wait until it re-opens.
Samaritans – 116 123
This service provides twenty-four hour emotional support to individuals who are suicidal or in crisis.
Breathing Space - 0800 83 85 87
This service provides emotional support out-with hours. Personal Social Media Accounts Dr Laura Williams maintains personal social media accounts.
Personal accounts are set to maximum privacy.
Dr Laura Williams respectfully requests that clients do not seek out her private accounts on social media.
Dr Laura Williams will not accept friend or follower requests from past or present clients to her personal social media accounts.
Occasionally, personal links between Dr Laura Williams and a client can come to light through social media while therapeutic work is in progress. If this happens, the matter may be discussed in session, in order to address any situations that may arise and need to be managed.
Press and Media Appearances
Dr Laura Williams is a frequent contributor on television, radio, and in written publications, in her professional capacity as a Clinical Psychologist. Dr Laura Williams appears as an expert commentator on matters relating to psychology and emotional wellbeing.
Dr Laura Williams will not share any identifying or specific information about any client, client group or clinical activity when contributing to press or media.
Dr Laura Williams will not confirm or acknowledge any individual or group as a therapy client when contributing to press or media.
Dr Laura Williams welcomes any queries, comments or requests about this policy, which can be sent to [email protected].
