Therapists Demand Boycott of Telehealth Companies Over Session Recordings and AI Use, Citing Client Privacy Violations
Therapists: Sign the boycott here!
Therapists Demand Boycott of Telehealth Companies Over Session Recordings and AI Use, Citing Client Privacy Violations
Oceanside, CA – November 18, 2024 – Mental health professionals are raising alarms over telehealth companies requiring therapy sessions to be recorded and utilizing artificial intelligence (AI) to analyze these recordings and clinician notes. These practices, therapists argue, jeopardize client privacy and exploit the most intimate aspects of therapy for corporate profit. In response, therapists are calling for a mass boycott of organizations employing these policies.
The concerns center on the ethical implications of recording therapy sessions—conversations often containing clients’ deepest traumas and vulnerabilities—and using that data to train AI or generate business insights. While some companies claim these practices are for "quality control" or "improving services," therapists warn they undermine the trust essential to therapeutic work.
Client Privacy at Risk
"Therapy is a sacred space where clients share their most private thoughts and emotions," said one therapist in a recent professional forum. "Using these intimate conversations to train AI or for any purpose beyond direct client care is a gross violation of trust."
Reports indicate that clients are being asked to consent to session recordings as part of their onboarding paperwork, often without a clear understanding of the implications. Therapists are instructed not to proactively discuss recordings with clients, leaving many unaware their sessions could be used for purposes unrelated to their care.
AI and Corporate Profits
Therapists are also troubled by the growing role of AI in telehealth platforms. In some cases, AI is being used to review therapy notes, provide feedback to clinicians, and analyze session recordings. Critics argue this prioritizes corporate efficiency and profitability over the human-centered nature of therapy.
"We’re seeing intimate, human experiences reduced to data points for algorithms," said another therapist. "These systems are not designed to honor the complexity and nuance of therapy. They are designed to serve corporate metrics."
A Call for Action
Therapists across the country are urging their peers to take a stand by refusing to work for companies that engage in these practices, quitting their roles, and boycotting these platforms entirely.
"Therapists must unite to protect our clients and our profession," said one advocate. "This is where we draw the line—client privacy should never be compromised for corporate gain."
The key demands from therapists include:
An immediate end to mandatory session recording policies.
A commitment to safeguarding client privacy by prohibiting the use of therapy sessions or notes to train AI.
Full transparency with clients about how their data is used.
Ethical practices that prioritize care over profit.
Protecting the Integrity of Therapy
Therapists emphasize that these practices threaten not only client privacy but the very foundation of the therapeutic relationship. "Clients come to us with their deepest vulnerabilities," said a former telehealth clinician. "Turning their pain into a profit stream for corporations is a betrayal of everything therapy stands for."
A Call to Journalists
Mental health professionals are ready to share their experiences and concerns to shine a light on this critical issue. Journalists interested in breaking this story can connect with therapists willing to provide examples of these practices.
Media Contact
Miranda Palmer, LMFT
Kelly Higdon, LMFT
help@zynnyme.com
Therapists: Sign the boycott here!
