What is Confidentiality?
Written By: Michelle Stantial, Graduate Student Intern
Confidentiality in Therapy
Confidentiality is a fundamental aspect of therapy and is essential for building trust between the therapist and the client. We understand that coming to counseling requires courage, vulnerability, and trust. You need to feel completely comfortable opening up about personal issues without fear of judgment or breach of privacy. That’s why confidentiality is so important!
Our goal is to create an environment where you feel safe, respected, and empowered to share without holding back. Trust is essential for us to do the deep therapeutic work that can lead to growth and healing. We will do everything possible to earn your trust and make this a place where you can be completely open and honest. When your meet with your therapist, conversations will remain strictly between the two of you. We will never share any details about our sessions without our client’s explicit consent (unless compelled by court or to protect yourself or another from imminent danger.) You can rely on us to always maintain professional ethics and honor your privacy. Nothing leaves the room without your permission.
Here's how confidentiality works in therapy:
Legal & Ethical Obligation:
Therapists are legally and ethically bound to maintain confidentiality regarding the information shared by their clients during therapy sessions. This means they cannot disclose information about the client or the content of their sessions without the client's explicit consent. Not even family or friends of the client, so no need to worry if they refer you and either you share the same therapist or they see another therapist within the group practice.
Exceptions to Confidentiality:
While confidentiality is generally upheld, there are specific situations where therapists may be required to breach confidentiality to ensure the safety and well-being of the client or others. These exceptions typically include situations involving imminent harm to the client or others, suspected child or elder abuse, or if a court subpoenas the therapist's records.
Informed Consent:
Therapists typically discuss the limits of confidentiality with their clients at the beginning of the first session in therapy, outlining the circumstances under which confidentiality may be breached. This process is known as informed consent, and it ensures that clients understand their rights and responsibilities regarding confidentiality.
Privacy Practices & Client Rights:
Therapists take measures to protect the confidentiality of their clients' information, both in and out of session. This may include keeping session notes secure, using encrypted communication methods for electronic communication, and ensuring that conversations cannot be overheard during sessions. We take pride in complying with HIPPA laws that protect your personal information and is not shared with anyone unless you sign and authorize us to share your information with a doctor’s office or anyone else who might need your records. Otherwise, we do NOT share any of your information with anyone without your written consent. Clients have the right to expect that their personal information will be kept confidential by their therapist. They also have the right to access their own therapy records and to request corrections or amendments to those records if necessary.
Confidentiality Within the Therapist's Practice:
Therapists may discuss cases with supervisors or colleagues for professional consultation or supervision purposes. However, they must take precautions to maintain client anonymity and confidentiality during these discussions. There is a form within your paperwork that you have an opportunity to sign if you grant permission for this.
Building Trust:
Confidentiality is essential for building trust between the therapist and the client. Clients are more likely to open up and engage in therapy fully when they feel confident that their personal information will be kept private and secure. It is important to be as transparent with your therapist as possible to ensure you are receiving the best level of care for a great therapeutic relationship.
Confidentiality After Therapy Ends:
Therapists continue to uphold confidentiality even after therapy has ended. Client information remains protected, and therapists do not disclose information about past clients without their consent, except as required by law.
Overall, confidentiality is a cornerstone of ethical therapy practice, and therapists take their obligation to protect their clients' privacy very seriously. Our therapists strive to build relationships founded on trust, compassion and mutual respect. Our promise to you is that we will always honor your privacy and maintain the highest ethical standards. We will always protect your confidentiality. Our commitment is to you and to preserving the sanctity of our counselor-client relationships. Please know that anything you discuss with your therapist will stay between the two of you. We are a safe space where you can share your innermost thoughts without fear of exposure. If you have any questions or concerns about confidentiality in therapy, do not hesitate to bring them up as it’s essential to discuss them openly with your therapist. We are here to support you in any way that we can!
Confidencialidad en la terapia
La confidencialidad es un aspecto fundamental de la terapia y es esencial para generar confianza entre el terapeuta y el cliente. Entendemos que acudir a asesoramiento requiere valentía, vulnerabilidad y confianza. Debe sentirse completamente cómodo hablando de cuestiones personales sin temor a ser juzgado o violar la privacidad. ¡Por eso la confidencialidad es tan importante!
Nuestro objetivo es crear un entorno en el que usted se sienta seguro, respetado y capacitado para compartir sin reprimirse. La confianza es esencial para que podamos realizar el trabajo terapéutico profundo que puede conducir al crecimiento y la curación. Haremos todo lo posible para ganarnos su confianza y hacer de este un lugar donde pueda ser completamente abierto y honesto. Cuando se reúna con su terapeuta, las conversaciones serán estrictamente entre ustedes dos. Nunca compartiremos ningún detalle sobre nuestras sesiones sin el consentimiento explícito de nuestro cliente (a menos que lo obligue un tribunal o para protegerse a usted mismo o a otra persona de un peligro inminente). Puede confiar en que siempre mantendremos la ética profesional y honraremos su privacidad. Nada sale de la habitación sin tu permiso.
Así es como funciona la confidencialidad en la terapia:
Obligación legal y ética:
Los terapeutas están obligados legal y éticamente a mantener la confidencialidad con respecto a la información compartida por sus clientes durante las sesiones de terapia. Esto significa que no pueden revelar información sobre el cliente o el contenido de sus sesiones sin el consentimiento explícito del cliente.
Excepciones a la confidencialidad:
Si bien generalmente se respeta la confidencialidad, existen situaciones específicas en las que se puede exigir a los terapeutas que violen la confidencialidad para garantizar la seguridad y el bienestar del cliente o de otras personas. Estas excepciones generalmente incluyen situaciones que involucran daño inminente al cliente u otros, sospecha de abuso infantil o de ancianos, o si un tribunal cita los registros del terapeuta.
Consentimiento informado:
Los terapeutas suelen discutir los límites de la confidencialidad con sus clientes al comienzo de la terapia, describiendo las circunstancias bajo las cuales se puede violar la confidencialidad. Este proceso se conoce como consentimiento informado y garantiza que los clientes comprendan sus derechos y responsabilidades con respecto a la confidencialidad.
Prácticas de privacidad y Derechos del cliente:
Los terapeutas toman medidas para proteger la confidencialidad de la información de sus clientes, tanto dentro como fuera de la sesión. Esto puede incluir mantener seguras las notas de las sesiones, utilizar métodos de comunicación cifrados para la comunicación electrónica y garantizar que las conversaciones no puedan escucharse durante las sesiones. Los clientes tienen derecho a esperar que su terapeuta mantenga la confidencialidad de su información personal. También tienen derecho a acceder a sus propios registros de terapia y solicitar correcciones o modificaciones a esos registros si es necesario.
Confidencialidad dentro de la práctica del terapeuta:
Los terapeutas pueden discutir casos con supervisores o colegas con fines de consulta o supervisión profesional. Sin embargo, deben tomar precauciones para mantener el anonimato y la confidencialidad del cliente durante estas conversaciones.
Formando confianza:
La confidencialidad es esencial para generar confianza entre el terapeuta y el cliente. Es más probable que los clientes se abran y participen plenamente en la terapia cuando se sienten seguros de que su información personal se mantendrá privada y segura.
Confidencialidad después de que termina la terapia:
Los terapeutas continúan manteniendo la confidencialidad incluso después de finalizar la terapia. La información del cliente permanece protegida y los terapeutas no divulgan información sobre clientes anteriores sin su consentimiento, excepto según lo exija la ley.
