This has never happened to me; it's just an interesting question I thought of.
2007-11-09 04:05:18 · 9 answers · asked by kimpenn09 6 in Social Science ➔ Psychology
I think it's unethical. It gives the therapist a chance to form pre-judgments about their patient, especially if it's done before they meet the first time. No matter how impartial you have to be, if you know something about the patient it's probably going to crop up in your mind when you're talking to them.
2007-11-09 06:33:19 · answer #1 · answered by Bubsy 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Since information on "Google" is pretty much public domain, how could it be unethical? If anyone else with a computer can access it, then why NOT the therapist who at least THINKS he/she can help the patient.
Granted, traditional psychotherapy is pretty ineffective*, but if knowing what he/she is getting into before seeing the patient - or even gathering more info between the patients' visits - can improve a therapist's already slim chances of actually doing any good, then I'd be all for it!
*(I have heard and read that traditional psychotherapy has a 3% success rate - which equates to a 97% failure rate! I don't know if this is true or not, but I can say that of the people I have met in my life who have been touched by it in any way, I have not seen where EVEN ONE of them has been helped ONE IOTA by it!)
So, in the final analysis, I would say it is no more or less unethical for a therapist to "Google" someone than it would be for you or me to do it.
2007-11-09 09:01:20 · answer #2 · answered by monarch butterfly 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A therapist should know as much as possible about the person they are trying to help. To use such knowledge against the patient or release that information to a third party would be unethical.
2007-11-09 04:11:59 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, i do no longer could. I throw 'em with quips like, "will we opposite roles now, I fairly experience like doodling in a laptop whilst pretending to care." And, "i could asked my imaginary therapist for a 2d opinion yet all I have been given became silence."
2016-11-10 22:40:53 · answer #4 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Depends on their reasons for googling, although since it's public information I don't see why it would be unethical to look for the info. Now, how they would use it would be a different issue.
2007-11-09 04:12:46 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Borderline. He just might be checking out your legitimacy (criminal record, debt record, etc.)
You should ask him. If he is ethical he may be embarrased a bit, but will be honest. If he changes the subject or beats around the bush, find someone else.
2007-11-09 04:11:12 · answer #6 · answered by Franklin 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Why? I'm sure that patients google their doctors.
2007-11-09 04:12:38 · answer #7 · answered by Diane M 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Why - do you thnk they're different from the rest of the population? What they do in their spare time is nobody's business.
2007-11-09 04:09:13 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
I don't see why it would be. Good question, though.
2007-11-09 04:09:13 · answer #9 · answered by paigespirate 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋