Appropriate Vs Inappropriate Contact

[driftaway]

Sorry I've been posting so much on this threat lately. This is the last one I promise
To sum it up quickly... The nonprofit my therapist worked for closed their outpatient program suddenly. My therapist was laid-off/fired. I'd really like to see her again. All the contact info I had for her is from the nonprofit, so I can't contact her. I do however know that she has a Facebook. Do you guys think it would be a violation of boundaries to contact her on Facebook if its the only way I can do so? What if I said something like...
"I know it's not really appropriate to message you here, but I'd like to continue seeing you, can you let me know if it's possible to schedule a session, either privately or at your next workplace. Otherwise, is there an address or PO box to which I could send a card?"
Do you guys think this would be upsetting for her? Would it work me up too much waiting for an answer? Sometimes people you're not friends with don't even get your messages on Facebook. Help!

 

[mary1979]

Why sorry for posting? That is what the forum is here for :)

And if her facebook is public enough that you can send a PM then no way is it a violation of her boundaries.

I would definitely reach out to her if you feel you need to.

Like you said, apologise for the intrusion, tell her how much you value her support and you never know, you may just get what you ask for.

Good luck and let us know how it goes!

 

[scout86]

You could also probably go to the non-profit, tell them you were one of her clients, that you'd like to continue working with her and you'd like her contact info. They probably have it.

 

[Anarchy]

you might also be able to contact her via the professional association that she's a member of
If you have a card, it will likely have the abreviation letters for the professional association after her name. A call or email to the secretary of the association should get you an email address for the T

 

[driftaway]

Thanks for the ideas! I'll try those

 

[Justmehere]

This is a great question! Glad you posted.

I have a friend who is a therapist, and every now and then, she gets Facebook messages from former clients that find her on Facebook, under the listing that is just her name and not her name as a private business. She generally ignores them, and doesn't respond at all. She doesn't consider it to be a major boundary violation on part of the client that contacts her, but just something that happens. She doesn't respond because she wants to keep her social and personal life separate. I think this makes a lot of sense, even if a therapist has a public social media page, to assume it's for social purposes. However, my friend does have a professional Facebook page, for her as a business (as Jane Doe, LPC) and if former clients contact her through that page, she will respond. (We talked about this in the process of trying to set up personal and professional accounts online of my own - not as a therapist but a different kind of helping professional.)

I wouldn't see any major harm in sending a PM to ask for professional contact info though to a personal Facebook account, as suggested above. A good therapist would understand.

If following up on Facebook, with the non-profit, and the professional association doesn't work, then in the US, you can check with the licensing board in your state. Google "State of.... (type of license) lookup." Many states have online databases of therapists on their state websites with public contact info.

I hope you are able to reconnect and restart therapy with her!

 

[anonymous]

Maybe have a look at linkedin too as that is slightly more professional and therefore boundaried in feel. Otherwise contacting her via facebook if the others don't work out and with a sincere apology should be fine. Good luck.

 

[driftaway]

All I can find on the internet for her, LinkedIn included, is her Facebook page and her HOME address. I will try the above suggestions about her professional organizations and contacting the nonprofit- if neither work, I'll try Facebook. Thanks

 

[Panda Bear]

Does she have a profile through a place like Psychology today?

 

[driftaway]

No panda