Obtain client consent for case studies while therapy clients are still on your active caseload.
Q: Can I use clinical videos for educational purposes?
You can share information with authorized people within your workplace. You should obtain written client consent for showing your images and videos to anyone outside of your public organization or private company.
Always ask for consent to use recordings for educational purposes. Do this at the beginning, when they become your clients. If they move away and you lose their contact information, you won’t be able to request consent later.
If you will be showing images and videos at a public event like a conference, or on your website, do not reveal identifying information about the person.
When you are making a recording, remember not to say the name of the person. Keep your video clips short. Use clinical descriptions to name the files, rather than using the name of the person.
Q: Can I ask clients for testimonials?
Testimonials are a big part of social media. Sometimes clients are eager to give you a rating and recommend your service. If you use a service such as YELP, the client is responsible for creating the testimonial and making it public, thereby shielding you from breaching any privacy laws.
Don't ask clients to post testimonials because the comment will be linked to their social profile. There is no privacy.
Instead, you can ask for feedback by email. Shorten testimonials and make spelling corrections. Post the testimonials on your website using initials rather than full names. This method provides you with social proof while protecting each client’s identity.
You can use social media to congratulate clients on making progress in therapy. To do this, post objective data that shows before and after scores. Use the client’s initials and avoid adding any identifying details.
Q: Can I use case studies in my marketing? Can I submit pictures of clients with a press release?
Case studies and news stories help to build your credibility. Show clients the drafts and get written consent before you make the information public.
