Online therapy has many advantages, but we do like to put in a word of caution.

MindBooster offers several means of online communication. Along the way, you will determine which modalities and which devices work best for you. Yet, right from the start we ask you to consider who else around you has access to the device that you will use. We recommend that you keep the devices used for communicating with your therapist, guarded by a password. In this manner, you prevent those close to you from reading through your personal messages. Online therapy is as private as writing in a diary. And you would feel equally violated if you realize another person has read your messages. Moreover, if you have to worry about what your loved ones would think if they read through your chats, messages and emails, you will not be able to be fully honest and open.

Remember that you can always click the ‘Delete’ button next to each message that you send so it no longer shows in your account.

Some tips on keeping your most private thoughts safe from your loved ones:

  • Choose one device e.g. a smartphone or tablet to communicate from.
  • Guard that device with a password that is different from the ones your loved ones know.
  • If they have questions, explain to them that you are following an online programme which requires you to keep personal notes. You prefer no one to read this as it is meant only for yourself.
  • If you are doing writing exercises on the family computer, we recommend you to work on a USB stick and give the document an unrelated, uninteresting name (e.g. draft rental contract, travel expenses, …), or save it in an inconspicuous folder.