Truthfully can you tell your psychologist everything? Will your privacy be protected?

[Anonymous]

I always wondered about this. I am just starting therapy, it's a large practice with a lot of people working in the office- a lot of people who could have access to my file, your life all in one file..... Too paranoid right?

[Anonymous]

Your privacy will be protected except for a few instances: if you become a danger to yourself or others, your privacy will be violated in order to protect you or whomever you are a danger to; if you make certain types of threats; or if you sue someone.

As to people looking at your records, yes, you are paranoid. Not to be offensive, but I doubt that you are interesting enough for anyone to care.

[Anonymous]

If the therapist violates confidentiality other than the situations mentioned byPP she or he could lose her license.

By all means bring up your concerns in your first session so you can be reassured.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Your privacy will be protected except for a few instances: if you become a danger to yourself or others, your privacy will be violated in order to protect you or whomever you are a danger to; if you make certain types of threats; or if you sue someone.

As to people looking at your records, yes, you are paranoid. Not to be offensive, but I doubt that you are interesting enough for anyone to care.

No, OP isn't paranoid. A former friend of mine told me about the time he was waiting in the offices of a therapeutic practice in - either Rockville or Bethesda, I think it was - for a woman who was an administrator there, and decided to leaf through patient records. He told me what he'd read. On a side note: awful stuff. Amazing, the kinds of cruelties seemingly-normal people inflict on children. So, yes, it's naïve to expect people who lack busy lives and respect for boundaries, and enjoy access to patient records, aren't capable of handling those records in ways that would make patients feel uncomfortable.

[Anonymous]

If the therapist violates confidentiality other than the situations mentioned byPP she or he could lose her license.

and even in the situations mentioned by PP, the release is limited to information needed to prevent harm, not the entirety of the therapeutic sessions. As to the other PP, just because you have second hand knowledge of a supposed breach of confidentiality does not mean that this is standard practice in the field. Therapists take confidentiality very seriously.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Your privacy will be protected except for a few instances: if you become a danger to yourself or others, your privacy will be violated in order to protect you or whomever you are a danger to; if you make certain types of threats; or if you sue someone.

As to people looking at your records, yes, you are paranoid. Not to be offensive, but I doubt that you are interesting enough for anyone to care.

This (I am a therapist). My files are always locked and no one else has access to them - this is the standard of care in the profession. Some people are moving to online records which are equally (if not more) safe. I do consult with other therapists about cases but do not share names.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Your privacy will be protected except for a few instances: if you become a danger to yourself or others, your privacy will be violated in order to protect you or whomever you are a danger to; if you make certain types of threats; or if you sue someone.

As to people looking at your records, yes, you are paranoid. Not to be offensive, but I doubt that you are interesting enough for anyone to care.

No, OP isn't paranoid. A former friend of mine told me about the time he was waiting in the offices of a therapeutic practice in - either Rockville or Bethesda, I think it was - for a woman who was an administrator there, and decided to leaf through patient records. He told me what he'd read. On a side note: awful stuff. Amazing, the kinds of cruelties seemingly-normal people inflict on children. So, yes, it's naïve to expect people who lack busy lives and respect for boundaries, and enjoy access to patient records, aren't capable of handling those records in ways that would make patients feel uncomfortable.

If this is true, it is highly unethical and potentially illegal (on the part of the practice). No one should be able to access the records. The standard of care is locked files.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Your privacy will be protected except for a few instances: if you become a danger to yourself or others, your privacy will be violated in order to protect you or whomever you are a danger to; if you make certain types of threats; or if you sue someone.

If your problem is how mean your mommy is, you record is safe.
But I was raped by a DC doctor. Very difficult to get an therapy. As soon as I said "member of the medical community" I was shown to the door.

[Anonymous]

If you sue someone is not grounds to breach privacy. Therapist here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you sue someone is not grounds to breach privacy. Therapist here.

Trial lawyer here. I have never been denied psych records when I've subpoenaed them. If they are relevant or could otherwise lead to admissible information I can always get them.

[Anonymous]

As long as it isn't thing incriminating or that can be used against you in a court of law by all means speak freely.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you sue someone is not grounds to breach privacy. Therapist here.

Trial lawyer here. I have never been denied psych records when I've subpoenaed them. If they are relevant or could otherwise lead to admissible information I can always get them.

+1

I'm a PI attorney. I can always access psych records if they are relevant. Whether they are admissible is another story. I've read lots of people's psych records.

Also a therapist may disclose information about a patient 1) if you intend to harm someone else or 2) if you have harmed a child. Also if you plan to harm yourself, the therapist can place a psychiatric hold on you and have you admitted to a hospital against your will.

[Anonymous]

If you don't tell your therapist everything you are undermining your ability to benefit from therapy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you sue someone is not grounds to breach privacy. Therapist here.

Trial lawyer here. I have never been denied psych records when I've subpoenaed them. If they are relevant or could otherwise lead to admissible information I can always get them.

+1

I'm a PI attorney. I can always access psych records if they are relevant. Whether they are admissible is another story. I've read lots of people's psych records.

Also a therapist may disclose information about a patient 1) if you intend to harm someone else or 2) if you have harmed a child. Also if you plan to harm yourself, the therapist can place a psychiatric hold on you and have you admitted to a hospital against your will.

When I clerked for a judge, I was shocked at how easy it is to get psychiatric records into court records in litigation. Often there isn't even a protective order in place - your lawyer can try for but the judge often denies it. I would like to go to therapy, and I would if they just wouldn't write everything down. I've yet to find a therapist who is willing to not take extensive notes. So I don't go. That said, I don't have major psychological issues, if I had postpartum depression or bipolar or ADHD or something more serious, I don't think I would let to court records privacy issue keep me from going to therapy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Your privacy will be protected except for a few instances: if you become a danger to yourself or others, your privacy will be violated in order to protect you or whomever you are a danger to; if you make certain types of threats; or if you sue someone.

As to people looking at your records, yes, you are paranoid. Not to be offensive, but I doubt that you are interesting enough for anyone to care.

This (I am a therapist). My files are always locked and no one else has access to them - this is the standard of care in the profession. Some people are moving to online records which are equally (if not more) safe. I do consult with other therapists about cases but do not share names.

I am also a therapist and this is spot on. Confidentiality is a big deal in mental health.