The One You Want to Skip Past, but Really Shouldn't. The Disclaimer Post.

I have to admit that as a clinical psychologist and fellow human navigating the online world – writing a blog post or creating content for social media is terrifying. Often, I am both impressed and mortified by those who appear to do it easily, frequently, with conviction and authority. It may not seem like it or be the experience for some – but for me it requires vulnerability.

What makes it harder is that I have no control over the filter of the other person who is interacting with my words and ideas. Will they understand my intent? Will they be able to understand that my lack of mentioning one factor when discussing four others does not mean that I am negating or dismissing that one factor? Will they be able to critically analyse what is relevant for them and what is not? Will they not use the information to justify actions and behaviours that will negatively impact them or others?

Every time, I wrestle with the thought of the benefit of posting anything at all. There is already so much noise in the world -

• Will my voice add anything of substance, or will it detract from other voices that speak more eloquently or have something more important to say?

• Will it make any difference to anyone?

• Does that possibility of being helpful to some negate or justify the potential harm it may cause to others?

• How might the way I define ‘harm’ be different to that of someone else's'?

• How do I navigate what may be harmful to one but not to another?

• What is the alternative? Is there a middle ground? Do I just stay silent?

• Could silence also be harmful?

I don’t have the answers to all these questions, nor do I believe that it is my right to decide what the answers should be. The framework of Circle of Control and Influence (Steven Covey) currently guides my decision - it is within my control and influence to commit to doing no harm. So, I choose to take thoughtful action.

With that framework in mind, if you choose to engage with my content across my public platforms, I ask that you please hold these points in mind:

• Please realise that even if my content shows up on your “For You Page”, not every post is for you personally.

• Understand that engaging with my content does not mean that I am your therapist – I do not have the privilege to know your unique life story and therefore not everything I may discuss will be helpful or relevant to you. Any recommendations that are made are not replacement for professional assessment or intervention.

• Whilst I am trained in the field of clinical psychology, I am first and foremost, a fellow human navigating the world. I have my own personal history and experiences that also shape the way I filter information and make sense of the world.

• I have a duty within my professional code of conduct to always be considering the ethics of what I share and how I show up on a public platform – that does not mean that I might not make mistakes. When I do, I should hope that you would give me the opportunity to correct those mistakes.

• Content shared by psychologists on wider platforms are mainly for educational purposes, as providing information in such a manner is not therapy. The type of therapy that I provide is one to one, in a specific context.

• Psychological research, information clinical guidelines, and ethical guidelines may change rapidly, and information shared across time may not always reflect the most up to date information.

• My professional role lives within me as a person - not a separate entity. This means that I am bringing along a part of my belief system into the way I make sense of all my education and clinical experience. I am not a blank slate therapist or subscribe to the idea of complete 'neutrality', this means, I may hold beliefs contrary to that of yours. My experience does not negate or reduce yours in any way.

What can you expect from my content?

A mixed bag. I may share educational content from my training as a clinical psychologist in Australia – linked to published peer reviewed research, knowledge gained via my tertiary education, textbooks, other forms of psychological training; adapted to my direct clinical experience, integrated with my personal values and ongoing education, integration and reflexivity practices around systemic factors such as colonisation, racism, feminism, imperialism, and how those impact us on an individual level. Sometimes, I might make content that is purely for entertainment purposes - mainly on social media.

My hope is that I would share something of use to someone out there – whether it’s the feeling of being seen or understood, or to echo to voices of those who share the same broader purpose.

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