Presentation at NYMHCA April 20, 2012

1. Clinical Practice Plugged In:
Ethical Online Strategies for
Psychotherapists
Susan Giurleo, PhD
http://DrSusanGiurleo.com
NYMHCSA Convention
2012

2. Overview
• Your Online Presence and Practice
• Social Media: Do’s, Don’ts and
Planning
• Marketing Your Practice Online
Susan Giurleo, PhD
http://DrSusanGiurleo.com

3. What keeps me up at night?
“How can we do
effective, ethical, profitable
mental health treatment
online?”
Susan Giurleo, PhD
http://DrSusanGiurleo.com

4. What keeps me up at night?
“How can we grow
effective, ethical, profitable
mental health businesses
online?”
Susan Giurleo, PhD
http://DrSusanGiurleo.com

5. We now have the tools to connect
the helpers with those who most
need our help.
Anywhere in the world.
Susan Giurleo, PhD
http://DrSusanGiurleo.com

6. Clinical Practice Plugged In?
Susan Giurleo, PhD
http://DrSusanGiurleo.com

7. Why Do Mental Health Online?
Educate and inform the public about mental health
issues.
• Over 80% of Americans use the internet to find
health care info (Pew Internet and Family Life Study, 2010)
• 28-35% of Americans look online specifically for
mental health information. (Pew Internet and Family Life Study,
2009)
• Kids aged 8-18 spend 7.5 to 10 hours a day
“plugged in.” (2009 Kaiser Family Foundation Study)
Susan Giurleo, PhD
http://DrSusanGiurleo.com

8. Why Do Business Online?
Susan Giurleo, PhD
http://DrSusanGiurleo.com

9. How Can Your Practice Engage Online?
What can you offer online to
reach more people and
increase your income
streams?
Susan Giurleo, PhD
http://DrSusanGiurleo.com

10. Clinical Practice 2.0
• Traditional face-to-face services
• Virtual services: teletherapy, email & online
video
• Psycho-education and information shared
virtually via blogs, ebooks,
teleclasses/webinars and social media
(including Twitter and Facebook)
• Virtual patient directed support groups
Susan Giurleo, PhD
http://DrSusanGiurleo.com

11. How to Help More People and Make
More Money
•Website/blog
•Free Reports
•Email Newsletter
•Phone/email coaching/counseling
•Paid psychoeducational online programs
•Paid private membership forums
•Self-published book
Susan Giurleo, PhD
http://DrSusanGiurleo.com

12. Blogs and Websites
Susan Giurleo, PhD
http://DrSusanGiurleo.com

13. Twitter
Susan Giurleo, PhD
http://DrSusanGiurleo.com

14. Autism Awareness Facebook Page
Susan Giurleo, PhD
http://DrSusanGiurleo.com

15. There’s an App for That
Susan Giurleo, PhD
http://DrSusanGiurleo.com

16. Virtual Presence Ethically and
Confidentially
http://www.onlinetherapyinstitute.com/ethical-training/
Susan Giurleo, PhD
http://DrSusanGiurleo.com

17. Virtual Treatment Ethically and Confidentially
Therapy in Light of Technology:
http://www.onlinetherapymagazine.com/
Susan Giurleo, PhD
http://DrSusanGiurleo.com

18. Virtual Treatment Ethically and
Confidentially
Susan Giurleo, PhD
http://DrSusanGiurleo.com

19. Virtual Treatment Ethically and
Confidentially
Susan Giurleo, PhD
http://DrSusanGiurleo.com

20. How to Ethically Engage in Social
Media
Ethics of
social media
feel like a
leap into an
abyss, but
we can
simplify
things….
Susan Giurleo, PhD
http://DrSusanGiurleo.com

21. How to Ethically Engage in Social
Media: the Basics
• Use the same ethical standards you use in
face-to-face interactions!
• Be yourself
• Be professional (do not combine personal and
professional accounts)
• Share fact-based information
• Reply to conversation with your professional
hat on.
Susan Giurleo, PhD
http://DrSusanGiurleo.com

22. How to Ethically Engage in Social
Media: the Coffee Shop Test
If you would not have the conversation with a
colleague in a coffee shop, do not engage in the
discussion in social media.Giurleo, PhD
Susan
http://DrSusanGiurleo.com

23. How to Ethically Engage in Social
Media: The Don’ts
• Don’t initiate relationships with current clients
(“like” them on Facebook, “follow” on
Twitter, or “link” on LinkedIn)
• Don’t share any information about clients or
issues that come up in your treatment with
anyone even if you hide identities.
• Don’t search for client information online (i.e.
Google their name).
Susan Giurleo, PhD
http://DrSusanGiurleo.com

24. The Google Debate
Never?
In case of emergency?
Susan Giurleo, PhD
http://DrSusanGiurleo.com

25. The Google Debate?
PROS CONS
•Find clients who may •“Emergency” is open to
be missing or made interpretation.
threats
•Find information not •Privacy concerns. Front of
brought into session house comparison.
•No way to asses reality of
info online
•“Can of worms” reality
Susan Giurleo, PhD
http://DrSusanGiurleo.com

26. How to Ethically Engage in Social
Media: The Do’s
• Do have a professional presence on social
media— professional blog, business page on
Facebook, professional Twitter account, LinkedIn profile.
• Do expect current clients to follow you in the
social media space – you don’t need to follow back
• Do consider a simple social media policy as
part of intake.
• Do have a plan to respond to personal
inquiries in the SM space.
Susan Giurleo, PhD
http://DrSusanGiurleo.com

27. How to Effectively Engage in Social
Media
Susan Giurleo, PhD
http://DrSusanGiurleo.com

28. Marketing Basics
To choose to engage in psychotherapy is a
purchasing decision.
• People have limited resources: money, time,
energy
• Keep in mind that psychotherapy is a
significant investment (money, time,
emotional energy)
• Need to educate and inform about why the
investment is worthwhile.
Susan Giurleo, PhD
http://DrSusanGiurleo.com

29. Marketing Basics
People make purchasing decisions based on:
• A need or want
• Solving a problem or pain
• Know, Like and Trust factors
Susan Giurleo, PhD
http://DrSusanGiurleo.com

30. Marketing Basics
Social media:
• allows the public to search for their
want/need and get to Know, Like and Trust
psychotherapists before making a purchasing
decision.
• is essentially FREE.
• has a large reach and long shelf life – ideas are
shared and exist online forever (unless taken
down)
Susan Giurleo, PhD
http://DrSusanGiurleo.com

31. Content
Susan Giurleo, PhD
http://DrSusanGiurleo.com

32. Giving, helping mindset
The more you give, the more you get in return
• When people know you as generous with
information, they are more likely to engage in
a working relationship
Susan Giurleo, PhD
http://DrSusanGiurleo.com

33. Content Marketing
Facebook
Twitter Website/Blog Community
Pinterest
Susan Giurleo, PhD
http://DrSusanGiurleo.com

34. Sharing is Caring
Your Content
Blog/newsletter
Relationship Others content
Collaboration Conversation
Susan Giurleo, PhD
http://DrSusanGiurleo.com

35. Simple Marketing Plan
• Well designed website/blog
• Free offer people can download if they give
their email
• Regular email newsletter to stay in touch
• Write articles/blog posts, share on social
media.
• Connect/converse/share/lead
• Make a valuable offer and a “soft sell”
Susan Giurleo, PhD
http://DrSusanGiurleo.com

36. Simple Marketing Plan
• Well designed website/blog
• Free offer people can download if they give
their email
• Regular email newsletter to stay in touch
• Write articles/blog posts, share on social
media.
• Connect/converse/share/lead
• Make a valuable offer and a “soft sell”
Susan Giurleo, PhD
http://DrSusanGiurleo.com

37. DrSusanGiurleo.com
• Blog: http://DrSusanGiurleo.com
Free e-course: 7 Steps to Build Your Practice
• Twitter: http://twitter.com/susangiurleo
• Facebook: http://facebook.com/bizsavvy
• LinkedIn:
http://www.linkedin.com/in/susangiurleo
Susan Giurleo, PhD
http://DrSusanGiurleo.com