Please read this entire document to avoid having your posts rejected!
Welcome to FreeTree – a fully‑moderated Google Group for licensed mental‑health clinicians, pre‑licensed professionals, and graduate students. These rules keep the listserv safe, efficient, and compliant with legal and ethical standards. By joining or posting, you agree to follow everything below.
OUR VALUES
Respect every colleague in language and tone.
Protect client confidentiality at all times.
Share only information that benefits the professional mental‑health community.
Help moderators keep the list usable by following the posting rules.
Breaches of these guidelines may lead to a warning or removal from the group. WHO MAY JOIN
WHO MAY JOIN
Pre‑licensed and licensed mental‑health professionals (those under the auspices of the BBS and/or BoP).
Colleagues outside the San Francisco Bay Area are welcome.
Invite interested colleagues to apply here: https://groups.google.com/d/forum/freetree/join
POSTING: THE 11‑POINT CHECKLIST — “Measure-Twice-Cut-Once” — Proofread before you hit “send,” and be sure your email:
Is addressed only to freetree@googlegroups.com (no CC to other lists).
Mentions no client information whatsoever (NO references to any specific person, whether you think it’s anonymized or not). NOTE: The words “client” and “for” are rejection flags which typically cause your post to be delayed.
Is written by and for you, not on behalf of a third party.
Summarizes any specific request in your own words (no direct quotes from potential clients).
Includes the cost of any event, rental, or item that has a fee. Costs listed on an attachment, by a link, or within an embedded graphic are not sufficient.
Includes the pay range for employment opportunities (California's salary transparency law requires this).
Does not mention your regular therapy/session fee.
Has a clear subject line: [Type] – [City, State].
Uses normal formatting (limited colors, no ALL‑CAPS or extra large fonts).
Has been proof‑read for tone, typos, and professionalism.
Has not been posted in the last two months.
If you are unsure, email the moderators first.
WHAT YOU MAY POST
Referrals & resources
Events & trainings (cost required)
Practice openings, closures, new specialties
Office / group space rentals (cost required)
Items for colleagues (Furniture, books, etc. — cost required)
Job/position postings (NOTE: California's salary transparency law requires that job listings must include the pay range being offered.)
WHAT YOU MAY NOT POST
Any description or identifying detail of a client or their relatives.
Messages written for a client or other third party.
Direct quotes from potential clients.
Your private‑practice session fee or sliding‑scale range.
General‑interest news, politics, or content not specific to psychotherapy.
Cross‑posts sent to multiple groups in one email.
Repeat announcements more than every other month.
Posts that are solely a critique of or response to another member.
REPLYING ETIQUETTE
Reply‑All only when your answer benefits most members. Begin with a line explaining why the whole list should see it. Note that “sending this to all because I think it’s a good resource” is NOT sufficient. We have over 1,500 members—none of us wants THAT much email!
If you read FreeTree in “Digest” or “Abridged” mode, the default reply goes to everyone—copy the sender’s address instead.
Members seeking ongoing dialogues should move the conversations off‑list.
FREQUENCY & TIMING
Re‑post the same event or announcement no more than once every two months.
If you want people to remember your specialty, create a fresh “about me” post twice a year.
Posts that are strictly for advertising your services TO other therapists will be limited to no more frequently than once per quarter (once every three months).
TALKING ABOUT FEES – A NOTE ABOUT OUR CURRENT UNDERSTANDING OF THE LAW
Posting the price of a discrete product (workshop, office rental, group, etc.) is fine. Posting your hourly therapy fee, or the high/low end of a sliding scale, is not. Regulators may view that as price‑fixing. When in doubt, ask a moderator.
MODERATION & APPEALS
Every post is screened using a simple flow‑chart (see Appendix A). If your message is rejected, you will receive an automated notice. Forward the rejected post (not just an email from you) to the moderators if you need clarification. Abusive replies can lead to immediate removal.
CONTACTING THE MODERATORS
Email freetreelistserv@gmail.com with questions, suggestions, or concerns. Please include the full text of any rejected post for reference.
Appendix A – Moderation Flow
Cross‑posted? → Reject
Reply‑All? → See 3
Does intro justify listwide reply? If no → Reject
Cost needed? If yes, is it listed? If no → Reject
Session fee mentioned? → Reject
ALL‑CAPS / big fonts? → Reject
General‑interest news? → Reject
Client described? → Reject
Posting for 3rd party? → Reject
Digest reply? → Reject
Critique of member only? → Reject
Duplicate < 2 months? → Reject
Otherwise → Accept
Appendix B – Fee Examples
Allowed
“Sliding scale available.”
“4‑week workshop — $250.”
Not Allowed
“My session fee is $200.”
“Sliding scale $80–$150.”
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Thank you for helping keep FreeTree safe, useful, and respectful for everyone.
[Revised 5 May 2025]