This article was first published in May 2023
Many registrants ask whether they can include products or content created by a third party to sell on their website. Some examples include meditation apps, personal care products intended to promote mental health, or educational courses focused on mental health.
The primary risk with recommending and selling products to clients for a profit is that it can create a conflict of interest if the registrant will benefit financially or otherwise. Registrants must not exploit the therapeutic relationship to their own benefit.
Registrants are expected to be aware of, and avoid, situations that might place them in a conflict of interest. When including products or third-party content for sale on a website, consider how members of the public will perceive the advertisement. Would they perceive that the registrant is using their position to endorse a product? Is any information, advice or comment related to the product accurate and supportable, based on reasonable professional opinion, and consistent with professional standards and ethics?
One way to manage this type of conflict-of-interest is to advise the client that they may purchase the product elsewhere and that doing so will not affect the client-therapist relationship. This also assures clients and members of the public that any sale or recommendation is in their interest only.
There are several areas where a registrant would want to make sure they are practising in line with CRPO standards. For example:
- Standard 3.2, Informed consent – is the client clear on what kind of treatment they are receiving? Does the client understand the nature of the product offered and potential risks and benefits?
- Standard 1.7, Dual relationships – does the combination of psychotherapy and non-psychotherapy treatment create a dual relationship or cross professional boundaries?
- Standard 1.6, Conflict of interest – is the registrant in a conflict, for example by offering to sell remedies or other products? Are safeguards in place to ensure the recommendation is in the client’s interest only?
- Standard 1.8, Undue influence – could the client feel pressured into buying a product from the RP?
- Standard 5.3, Accurate billing – is the billing accurate if it claims to relate to psychotherapy services?
- Standard 6.2, Advertising – is it clear whether advertising pertains to psychotherapy or a different product/service being offered?
- Standard 2.1, Competence and claims about therapy – does the RP have the competence to offer the services, and would other RPs support any claims made about the products as reasonable?