Sometimes speaking truth to power has a happy ending. At least that’s the experience of some psychologists who took exception to the American Psychological Association’s (APA) practice of accepting advertisements from Talkspace, the text-therapy provider. After complaints from more than a dozen psychologists, on July 23 the APA sent those psychologists an email stating they would be cancelling all future advertisements and conference exhibits from Talkspace.
The problem started in June when professional listserv discussions noted that Talkspace had been advertising in APA publications. One full-page ad that had been running monthly in the Monitor on Psychology, APA’s flagship magazine for psychologists, was a recruitment pitch from Talkspace proclaiming in large letters, “Join The Future Of Therapy.” For various reasons, one of which I will describe below, this ad in APA publications was seen to have crossed a line into the professionally unacceptable. (Full Disclosure: I participated in some of those discussions and my work here at Forbes was cited by some.)
Screenshots of three most recent issues of APA's “Monitor on Psychology”
(T. Essig)
After receiving these complaints, according to the July 23 letter from Jodi Ashcraft (director of advertising and exhibit sales for the APA) sent to the complaining psychologists, the APA engaged in a careful review process. Talkspace was consulted. Feedback and resources were shared, including APA’s Guidelines for the Practice of Telepsychology. Talkspace participated in the process and provided responsive information.
The letter then states, “After thoughtful deliberation, a decision was made to cancel Talkspace advertising and exhibit space going forward in APA publications and at the APA Convention.”
I contacted APA for comment. I assumed that the decision they made was because Talkspace violated APA policy on acceptable advertising. The document, Advertising Policy for APA Publications, states that the “acceptability of an ad for publication in APA publications or on the APA website is based upon legal, social, professional, and ethical considerations.” I wanted to learn what the specific considerations were. But, understandably, APA declined to share any information telling me in an email “we do not publicly discuss our relationships with advertisers.”
I also reached out to Oren Frank, Talkspace CEO, for comment. In response I received a letter from Talkspace general counsel. He wrote Talkspace would have “no comment, as it is not proper” because of an ongoing consideration of litigation against some of the complaining psychologists, including me, and ongoing discussions with APA.
So, what kinds of things are at issue here? Let me share one concern expressed in professi
