Social Media Use Policy
Shannon A Swales – Clinical Psychologist, Author & Educator
ABN 41 196 767 164
Last updated: 23 September 2026
Purpose and Scope
Shannon A Swales uses social media and other online platforms to share educational and informational content relating to psychology, burnout, chronic stress, self-compassion, wellbeing, midlife and related topics.
These platforms may also include information about Shannon's professional services, writing, podcast, speaking, educational offerings, coaching, supervision and the Midlife Reclaimed community.
This policy applies to Shannon A Swales' professional social media accounts and is intended to clarify the purpose of these spaces, their limitations, and the boundaries that apply when interacting with Shannon online.
Educational Information Only
Content shared through social media is general in nature and is provided for educational and informational purposes.
It does not take into account your individual circumstances and should not be considered psychological assessment, diagnosis, treatment, therapy or personalised professional advice.
Social media content is not a substitute for individual psychological, medical or other professional care.
Where research or psychological information is discussed, reasonable care is taken to provide accurate and evidence-informed information. However, social media necessarily involves brief and general communication and cannot provide the context or individual assessment required for personalised recommendations.
No Professional Relationship
Viewing, following, commenting on, sharing or otherwise engaging with Shannon's social media content does not establish a psychologist-client, supervisor-supervisee, coach-client or other professional service relationship.
Participation in social media discussions is separate from Shannon's formal psychological, supervision, coaching, community and educational services.
Where you engage Shannon for a professional service, the terms, consent processes, boundaries and conditions applicable to that particular service will be provided separately.
Professional and Personal Perspectives
Shannon's online presence reflects several aspects of her work and experience, including her roles as a Clinical Psychologist, author, educator, speaker, podcast host and community facilitator.
At times, Shannon may also share personal reflections or lived experience, including reflections relating to burnout and midlife.
Personal experiences are shared as personal experiences. They should not be interpreted as psychological advice, clinical recommendations or an indication that another person will have the same experience or outcome.
Privacy and Confidentiality
Social media platforms are public or semi-public spaces and are not appropriate places to share sensitive personal, health or clinical information.
Please consider your privacy carefully before commenting, posting, tagging or otherwise interacting with Shannon's accounts.
If sensitive personal or clinical information is shared publicly, Shannon may hide or remove the content where possible in order to protect privacy. Shannon will not provide individual psychological assessment, clinical advice or therapy in response to information disclosed through social media.
The privacy and security practices of individual social media platforms are outside Shannon's control. You are encouraged to familiarise yourself with the privacy settings and policies of any platform you use.
Current and Former Clients
Current and former psychology clients are welcome to view or follow Shannon's public professional social media accounts if they choose to do so.
Choosing to follow, comment on or otherwise interact with a professional account is your personal decision. Please be aware that doing so may allow others to see your interaction with Shannon's content.
To protect your confidentiality, Shannon will not publicly acknowledge that you are, or have been, a psychology client, coaching client, supervisee or recipient of another confidential professional service.
Shannon does not initiate personal social media connections with current or former psychology clients and may decline friend, follow or connection requests to private or personal accounts where accepting the request could compromise confidentiality, privacy or professional boundaries.
Social media interaction is not part of your psychological, coaching or supervision service. Questions or concerns relating to your professional work with Shannon should be discussed through the appropriate private professional channels.
Direct Messages and Contact
Social media accounts and direct messages are not continuously monitored and should not be used for clinical communication, therapeutic concerns, crisis support or urgent matters.
A response to a social media message cannot be guaranteed.
Shannon does not provide therapy, psychological assessment, individual psychological advice or crisis support through social media or direct messaging.
Where appropriate, general enquiries about Shannon's services may be redirected to the appropriate professional contact or booking channel.
Comments and Community Interaction
Respectful discussion, reflection and differing perspectives are welcome.
Shannon reserves the right to hide, delete, restrict or moderate content that:
contains discriminatory, abusive, threatening or offensive material;
breaches or potentially breaches another person's privacy or confidentiality;
contains sensitive clinical or personal information that may place someone at risk;
constitutes spam or inappropriate promotion;
contains misinformation that may create a risk of harm; or
is inconsistent with the purpose or safety of the space.
Moderating or removing content does not necessarily indicate agreement or disagreement with the views expressed.
Testimonials, Reviews and Client Experiences
As a registered psychologist, Shannon is subject to the advertising requirements applying to regulated health services under the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law.
Testimonials or purported testimonials concerning clinical aspects of regulated health services cannot be used in advertising.
For this reason, comments, reviews or other material posted to platforms controlled by Shannon may be removed or hidden where they constitute a testimonial about a regulated health service.
Shannon does not solicit testimonials about psychological services and will not republish, share or use client testimonials about clinical aspects of psychological services for advertising purposes.
Reviews or comments published independently on platforms Shannon does not control remain the responsibility of those platforms and their authors.
Advertising and Professional Standards
As a registered psychologist, Shannon is required to comply with applicable professional, ethical and advertising requirements, including those established under the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law, the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (Ahpra) and the Psychology Board of Australia.
Information published about professional services is not intended to guarantee particular results or outcomes, create unreasonable expectations of beneficial treatment, or encourage unnecessary use of psychological services.
Any claims concerning health, psychology or treatment are intended to be consistent with appropriate evidence and applicable professional advertising requirements.
Professional Boundaries
Professional boundaries apply online as they do in other professional settings.
Shannon may choose not to respond to personal questions, requests for individual advice or interactions that would blur the distinction between public education and a professional therapeutic, supervisory or coaching relationship.
The accessibility of a psychologist through social media should not be interpreted as availability for psychological support outside an established professional service.
Third-Party Content and Resources
From time to time, Shannon may share books, articles, podcasts, research, websites, organisations or other third-party resources that may be of interest.
Sharing a resource does not necessarily constitute endorsement of the individual or organisation responsible for it, or agreement with all views expressed within it.
While reasonable care is taken when selecting resources, Shannon cannot guarantee the accuracy, availability, security or ongoing suitability of third-party content and is not responsible for subsequent changes made by external providers.
Crisis Support and Emergencies
Social media is not monitored for crisis situations and is not an emergency or crisis-support service.
If you are in immediate danger or require urgent assistance in Australia, call 000 or attend your nearest emergency department.
For crisis support, you may also contact:
Lifeline: 13 11 14 – 24-hour crisis support
Beyond Blue: 1300 22 4636
You may also contact your GP, treating mental health professional or an appropriate local mental health service.
If you are outside Australia, please contact the emergency or crisis services available in your location.
Seeking Individual Support
If information shared through Shannon's social media raises concerns about your own mental health or wellbeing, consider speaking with an appropriately qualified health professional who can assess your individual circumstances.
Information about Shannon's professional services and other offerings is available through the Shannon A Swales website.
Changes to This Policy
This policy may be reviewed and updated periodically to reflect changes in Shannon's professional activities, social media use, applicable professional standards or regulatory requirements.
The current version and date of review will be published on the website.
Continued use of or interaction with Shannon A Swales' social media platforms following an update is subject to the current version of this policy.