Reputation Management: Ethical Ways to Counteract Negative Reviews and Comments Online

When someone googles your name, they may find negative reviews or comments on the first page of search results. Except for very specific circumstances, these negative reviews cannot be removed. Furthermore, while most businesses try to offset negative reviews by directly responding to comments online or by soliciting testimonials from satisfied customers, we mental health professionals are ethically prohibited from doing so.

However, we do have other options—which are ethical—to counteract negative reviews. This workshop will address what prospective clients pay attention to in reviews, and specific ethical strategies to maintain a positive professional reputation online.

• Describe current trends in consumer searches for professional services.
• List ways that mental health professionals can ethically counteract negative information about themselves online.

Pauline Wallin, PhD