The rapid expansion of online mental health services and digital applications, including artificial intelligence (AI) tools, has raised new debates regarding privacy, information security, and therapeutic boundaries. While digital health platforms provide accessibility and flexibility, they also pose significant risks in terms of data protection, algorithmic transparency, and the erosion of therapeutic trust. In addition, the practice of patient-targeted Googling (PTG), where therapists search for clients' online information, represents a unique boundary issue directly tied to digital footprints.
This qualitative study aims to explore these issues from the perspectives of clients and therapists within the Turkish context. Semi-structured in-depth interviews will be conducted with approximately 15-20 clients who have received online therapy in the past year and 12-15 therapists who have provided online services. The interviews will address clients' awareness and expectations of privacy and security, as well as therapists' responsibilities regarding digital practices, including platform selection, data protection, informed consent, the use of digital tools (AI included), and boundary challenges such as PTG. In addition, the privacy policies and user agreements of widely used online therapy platforms in Turkey will be examined through document analysis. Data will be analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis, allowing for a comparison of perspectives between clients and therapists.
Expected outcomes include (a) a mapping of the current state of privacy and security in online mental health services in Turkey, (b) ethical recommendations for therapists regarding responsibilities in digital mental health services (including AI applications and boundary management), (c) a checklist of minimum privacy and security standards for platforms, and (d) GDPR- and KVKK(Turkey's GPDR)-compliant transparency protocols. The study aims to contribute to both academic literature and practical applications by highlighting how digital transformation reshapes therapeutic trust and privacy in the Turkish context.