Article about Mental Health/counselling apps and Privacy

[Lady Wolfshead]

Imagine my horror at learning certain counselling apps don't have properly certified counsellors, and even worse, sell their user data. This article links a Mozilla page that rates apps (not just mental health) from best to worst in terms of privacy.

https://gizmodo.com/betterhelp-and-other-therapy-apps-might-not-be-very-pri-1848867423

 

[Lady Wolfshead]

Wow. On the Mozilla page, Betterhelp is listed as "super creepy" as having some of the worst privacy regulation. Wikipedia references them selling data to Facebook

 

[Windhover]

Thanks @Lady Wolfshead I am not at all surprised.

 

[Waves]

Thanks Lady. When we think about counseling it needs to be in person. Part of therapy is forming a therapeutic relationship building trust. Seeing the genuine positive regard from your therapist. That is not feasible in the digital world. Too much fraud in digital forum. Like a bandit hiding behind a face bandanna

 

[Harmony]

The same discrepancy is prevalent here. Many come here to prey on the vulnerable. The owners aren't going to give two shits. Take everything with a grain of salt and be safe using this forum as well.

 

[AvidFan]

UK is terrible for this. Therapy is a total unregulated profession. Sure there are professional bodies like BACP - but you have to be qualified to join them and the worst they can do is expel you. Literally ANYONE can legally call themselves a Therapist, Psychotherapist, Counsellor, whatever - whether they have a 3 year Masters, did a 2 minute course, or no training at all. Psychiatrist and Clinical Psychologist, along with things like Music and Drama Therapist are legally protected titles, but none of the others. So you could make a website, call yourself a counsellor, and off you go. Sadly I do know of people doing this and there's nothing anyone can do about it. Some of their clients actually think their (completely unqualified) "therapist" is great, but I think they probably have Stockholm Syndrome!