Online Counseling Confidentiality & Security

Confidentiality: I, Carl Benedict, am a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) in Maryland, legally and ethically bound to protect your online counseling confidentiality, including the confidentiality of your records, which are stored and secured according to professional guidelines.

Your email address and personal information will never be shared with third parties. I employ state-of-the-art technology to ensure your online therapy privacy. I never see your credit card information when you pay, which is processed through PayPal , the global leader in online payments. For more information about payment security, go to About PayPal Security . For more information on online therapy security, keep reading.

Caution:To protect your privacy, be prudent in how you store treatment-related emails and chat room transcripts. Make sure they are protected from unauthorized access by using and guarding your passwords. Consider deleting any emails (sent or received) or chat room transcripts that you do not want others to see, followed by emptying your trash or recycle bins. If you make hard copies of emails or chat transcripts, store them securely. Be aware that emails sent from a workplace computer are the property of the employer. Continue reading to see how I ensure your online counseling confidentiality and privacy.

Privacy In Chat Therapy: I use Skype Instant Messaging services for my Chat Therapy sessions. NOTE:We will be using instant messaging, NOT voice or webcam. It is therapy by text, NOT by phone or webcam.

Skype writes: "All Skype-to-Skype voice, video, and instant message conversations are encrypted. This protects you from potential eavesdropping by malicious users." Here is the link to that quote. Click here to download Skype , which is completely free when used for instant messaging. You can download Skype for Windows or Mac, and then you will need to set up a Skype account, which only takes a few minutes and then send me your Skype Name. And you should always save the session's transcript to review later, which most clients find to be helpful and one of the big advantages of chat therapy.

Privacy in Video and Phone Therapy: Skype writes: "All Skype-to-Skype voice, video, and instant messages are encrypted. This protects you from potential eavesdropping by malicious users. If you make a call from Skype to mobile and landline phones, the part of your call that takes place over the PSTN (the ordinary phone network) is not encrypted." So, what this means is that Skype-to-Skype calls are more secure than calls involving mobile phones or landline phones. Here is the link to that quote. Click here to download Skype , which is completely free when used for Skype-to-Skype phone calls..

Limits to Confidentiality & Privacy: There are limits to your confidentiality and privacy. State law requires that I report to the local Department of Social Services (DSS) any evidence I have of a child being abused or neglected. In other words, if you tell me that you are physically abusing or severely neglecting your child, or identify someone who  is, I am required by law to make a report to DSS.

Similarly, if you tell me that you are going to kill yourself or someone else, I am required by law to inform the police and the other person, and do anything else necessary to stop the suicide or murder.

And finally, in the rare event I would be subpoenaed by a court of law to produce your confidential records and a judge ordered me to comply, then I would. (Note: The same would be true in face-to-face therapy.)

If you have any questions concerning online counseling confidentiality, security, or privacy issues, please Contact Me .