Email
(revised August 2007)

Remember, whether you use email or voicemail, I may not receive it or reply for 24 hours, or more sometimes on weekends or if I'm out of town.  Click on this link for emergencies. 

Email is efficient, easy, fast -- but you need to think through the security/privacy issues before you use it.  First we'll look at the problems, then some possible solutions.

Using your computer at work?

This is probably not a good idea for most people.  You probably do not want your employer to have access to the documents you will send me, or my reply.  This is probably true even if all we are doing is setting appointment times.  many employers regard your computer as their property, along with all of its contents, meaning your e-mail records as well.  There are many free e-mail services like Gmail, Hotmail, Opera Mail, and the like.  These will still leave a record on your computer at work in some circumstances; if you have any doubt, learn about what kind of browser histories your computer is saving. 

Security of e-mail

An email message is like a postcard:  along the way, several people could read it before it arrives at the destination computer, where more people may see it (if that computer is not password-protected, as they are at Co-Psych). 

This is somewhat less of a problem if you put your story in a Word document and then attach it to your email, which is a bit more like writing a letter then putting it in an envelope.  The postpeople may read the envelope, but at least it would take some work to open it and read the contents -- unlike the email format, which like a postcard doesn't take much work to read.   

Let's think about who could read your email to me; then my email to you.  First, there are several computers your email will pass through on the way to the computers at Co-Psych.  These "servers" are completely unrelated to Co-Psych, could be miles away, and your email is visible to anyone who knows how to get into these servers. 

When I write back, the same applies.  And then, are there others on your end who could see the message?  Your spouse or girl/boyfriend or child?  Your message to me will be visible as part of my reply (to remind you about your question), so both your and my message could be readable by people who know you, if your computer is accessible to others.

Furthermore, your computer will store the message and unless you're really good at this, a trace can remain even after you delete it.  All this sounds like enough to deter anyone from using email! 

Solutions

Many people don't worry too much about someone reading their email to a psychiatrist.  If you doubt that, you could take a look at the public presentation of personal data people send me (often signing it by name) at BipolarWorld.  So, if you want to go ahead and use your regular email arrangements, that's okay with me.  I will write back to that location with at least as much caution as you display regarding information which could identify you.  

For more security than that, leave out any identifying information at all from anything you send me, including your summary document. Then call me to provide the identifying information to go with the completely anonymous e-mail that you are sending (541 829 9319). For this approach you will need an e-mail account which does not identify you by its name or title, so choose something completely anonymous, e.g. NowImdeterminedtogetbetter@hotmail.com. 

In Summary

Please understand that security is an evolving matter.  Unfortunately I cannot guarantee the security of any of these approaches.  But I will do my best to protect your information. If you're worried about the computers at Co-Psych and their security, read about Privacy at Co-Psych.  

Email: jp@Co-Psych.com