The Nevada Psychology Internship Consortium (NV-PIC) social media policy applies to all NV-PIC interns regarding the use of social media with clients and NV-PIC faculty. Unless otherwise mentioned, this policy applies specifically to the use of social media and does not include the use of text message, voicemail, email, or other forms of technology.
NV-PIC encourages thoughtful engagement with social media platforms, including but not limited to Facebook, Twitter, Linked In, etc. We recommend that as you engage with social media, you consider that your online profile is available to many different professional colleagues as well as personal connections. This means that clients (former, current, and potential), colleagues, and prospective employers may have access to your information. Be thoughtful about what you choose to include in any online platforms, your privacy settings, and any professional implications of your posts. If an intern has questions related to information contained within this policy or about security settings of social media sites, he or she is encouraged to speak with the primary supervisor or the NV-PIC Training Director.
Additionally, interns must be mindful of the potential for multiple relationships with clients as well as NV-PIC faculty and agency staff when considering use of social media. It is the policy of NV-PIC that interns will not use social media to interact with members of the Training Committee, supervisors, or other faculty members. Following the completion of internship training, social media contact with NV-PIC training committee members and supervisors is permitted to the extent that interns and faculty members are comfortable and mutually agree to do so.
Interns will not use social media or other internet-based tools (e.g., googling) to interact with or look-up client information, unless the intern receives prior approval from his or her supervisor. If requested to look at a social media site (e.g., Facebook profile) by a client, interns will use their judgment about the clinical utility of doing so and will do so only on the client’s device during the therapy session. Interns are permitted to look up client information regarding legal charges on law enforcement or government websites.
Interns should use only state equipment (e.g., office phone) to communicate with clients. Emailing with clients or guardians is generally prohibited as a means of communication. Email contact with clients or guardians may be permissible on rare occasions with approval from the intern’s supervisor.