One interesting thing I've learned from blocking all advertisements on #instagram is that #betterhelp partners with a gazillion influencers so they can still advertise to you through them after they've been blocked. Gross?

@msprout @mozilla

Thanks for this. As far as I can see Better Help is doing its best to drive private counsellors out of business.

Legal but very definitely not ethical.

#BetterHelp #Therapy #counselling

@irenes

Hmm. I wonder if Better Help has a GDPR statement.

#BetterHelp #EU #GDPR #Counselling #Therapy #Scam

👋​Hey everyone!

We just released a new episode on the Shared Security Show discussing the White House's National Cybersecurity Strategy and BetterHelp's $7.8 million fine from the FTC.

We also cover credential stuffing attacks on Chick-fil-A and the importance of reading terms of service and privacy policies.

Tune in now to learn more!

Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/8u0Ht_K_gVU

Listen direct from our website:
https://sharedsecurity.net/2023/03/13/bidens-national-cybersecurity-strategy-betterhelps-ftc-fine-chick-fil-a-data-breach/

#podcast #cybersecurity #SharedSecurityShow #NationalCybersecurityStrategy #FTC #BetterHelp #CredentialStuffing

#FAIL... Online therapy company #BetterHelp: "We will not use or disclose your confidential #Health data... #LOL...Unless we feel like peddling it to #Facebook, #Snapchat, or #Pinterest for a quick buck"....

https://www.theverge.com/2023/3/2/23622227/betterhelp-customer-data-advertising-privacy-facebook-snapchat

#WorldNews #News #USA #MentalHealth #Privacy #Healthcare #HIPAA #Business #SocialMedia #Meta #Advertising #MentalHealthApps #PersonalHealthData #DataCollection #FTC

The one that got caught. 🤨 #privacy

#BetterHelp banned from sharing customer data with advertisers, social media giants https://www.techradar.com/news/betterhelp-banned-from-sharing-customer-data-with-advertisers-social-media-giants @techradar

#BetterHelp shared customer data while promising it was private, says FTC - The Verge

It could have to pay up to $7.8 million to settle the charges that it misled consumers.

https://www.theverge.com/2023/3/2/23622227/betterhelp-customer-data-advertising-privacy-facebook-snapchat

FTC says online counseling service BetterHelp pushed people into handing over health information – and broke its privacy promises:

https://www.ftc.gov/business-guidance/blog/2023/03/ftc-says-online-counseling-service-betterhelp-pushed-people-handing-over-health-information-broke

Case documents including complaint and consent order linked from https://www.ftc.gov/legal-library/browse/cases-proceedings/2023169-betterhelp-inc-matter

Note: BetterHelp, Inc. dba:
COMPILE, INC.,
also d/b/a MYTHERAPIST,
also d/b/a TEEN COUNSELING,
also d/b/a FAITHFUL COUNSELING,
also d/b/a PRIDE COUNSELING,
also d/b/a ICOUNSELING,
also d/b/a REGAIN,
also d/b/a TERAPPEUTA.

#FTC #BetterHelp #breach #deception #unfairness #privacy #advertising

Man Says BetterHelp Referred Him to Conversion Therapy Supporter

He says he was told that going straight was the best way to reconnect with his conservative Christian family.

https://www.advocate.com/news/2022/12/22/man-says-betterhelp-referred-him-conversion-therapy-supporter
#MentalHealth #BetterHelp #ConversionTherapy #Homophobia

#BetterHelp therapist ‘told man to stop being gay’ after he was kicked out by family

https://flip.it/plOB-0

22yo comes out to parents, is kicked out. "Feeling isolated and depressed," he reaches out on #BetterHelp app and requests #LGBTQ therapist but is connected with a Christian therapist who suggests conversion therapy. #BetterHelp responded, saying, “Given the scale of the service, unfortunate and negative experiences are not completely unavoidable.”

#MentalHealth apps exploded during the #pandemic and need tighter oversight.

https://www.rawstory.com/mental-health-apps/

Writing a research paper on #BetterHelp means having to understand jargon in the privacy policy. Thankfully, I do. I’m scared.

I’m starting a research paper on #BetterHelp bc the amount of ads and lack of coverage stresses me out.

TIL that #BetterHelp.com does not, in fact, accept any form of insurance. Funny how that's really only mentioned in the last step of signing up. Shame, that. I have other options, but was looking forward to giving it a try.

So, I feel that this time around, Betterhelp being an online and messaging service, I'll communicate in a way that works for me. Thiseans explaining what I intent with emoji, and using them a lot. When I find a meme or thread explaining autistic struggles or experiences, I'll share that and ask we discuss to nuances around it, tease out meaning and insight I feel too inarticulate to express myself. I expect to go though several therapists before I find someone that will listen to me.

Here's the interesting part I'd like to share with ya'll. I feel that being more open and discussing the same memes and conversations here on the fediverse may be a good way to uncover the same insights with others that have had similar experiences.

Anyone else interested in joining in some group discussions of their neurodivergent experiences, difficulties, and solutions and coping tools? On Twitter I've seen the #ActuallyAutistic tag used with good discussions, perhaps the same tag, #trunk, or @actuallyautistic to encourage these discussions here?

Honestly I expect I would have more success discussing these types of things with the community here than on #BetterHelp, and I wonder if anyone else is interested in participating

So, I'm getting myself back into #therapy and instead of trying to find someone local (every type of available health professional is booked through the new year) I'm giving #BetterHelp another try.
My previous experience with better help was that of a disinterested therapist working through a generic checklist as quickly as possible so they could finish the live session and get back to whatever else it was they were doing. At the time I was still struggling to identify what I even needed help with, and really just felt bullied into accepting a generic treatment of #CBT and just told to "do your homework, write a bunch, and we'll talk again later", completely ignoring my statements about struggling with completing tasks, and this treatment was essentially just repeating "get over it and do it, what's wrong with you".

In short it was an awful experience.

In the time since, I've grown, understand myself and my #ADHD / #autistic traits better, and feel much more confident in setting boundaries and standing up for myself against therapists that would be dismissive of my needs, and I am ready to fire a therapist that is so dispassionate towards my struggles.