Get Help Israel — Disclaimer on Emails and Confidentiality
Email can be a valuable tool for mental health professionals, offering a convenient way to schedule appointments, share resources, and stay in contact with clients between sessions. Used thoughtfully, it can strengthen the therapeutic relationship and improve access to care. However, email also carries limitations and risks that both professionals and clients should understand.
Some Limitations to Email Communication
Email creates a written record that can be forwarded, printed, or accessed by others, and it is not a substitute for clinical care. Clients may develop an expectation of round-the-clock availability, and urgent or crisis matters are never appropriate for email — they require direct, real-time contact or emergency services.
Professionals remain bound by their confidentiality obligations in all electronic communication. Because email can be intercepted, misdirected, or stored on servers outside the professional's control, it should not be assumed to be private.
Setting Parameters With Clients
Professionals are encouraged to establish clear parameters with clients about how email will be used — for example, distinguishing administrative use (scheduling, billing) from clinical content, setting expectations for response times, and clarifying that email is not monitored continuously. These parameters are best discussed and documented as part of informed consent at the start of treatment.
Encryption and Protecting Client Information
Standard, unencrypted email is vulnerable. Professionals should take reasonable precautions to protect client information, including using up-to-date firewall and virus protection, strong and unique passwords, secure networks (avoiding public Wi-Fi for sensitive information), and, where possible, encrypted or secure-messaging platforms.
Example of a Disclaimer
Notice of Confidentiality: This email and any attachments are intended only for the person or entity to which they are addressed and may contain confidential and/or privileged information. If you are not the intended recipient, any review, use, disclosure, or distribution is prohibited. If you have received this email in error, please contact the sender and delete the material from any computer.
Please be aware that email communication is not a fully secure medium and confidentiality cannot be guaranteed. If you prefer not to receive information by email, please let me know.
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Reference: Zur, O. (2015). Therapists' use of email with clients. Zur Institute.