Confidentiality
Is the information
discussed in therapy kept private?
One of the most frequently asked questions about therapy is: "Will
what I tell the therapist be kept private and confidential?" The
answer is "yes." You have a right to expect absolute privacy and
confidentiality in therapy. Without your explicit consent, the
therapist is prevented by law from discussing information you share during
your sessions with anyone else. Knowing and trusting that anything you say
will be safely contained in the therapeutic space is essential to
meaningful therapy.
In addition to maintaining absolute confidentiality, the therapist is
responsible for establishing an environment that ensures your privacy in
every way possible. It's important to be aware of the impact even the
subtlest intrusions can have on your sense of privacy. Encountering
another client in the waiting room, hearing someone speaking in the next
room during your session, or having your therapist speak on the phone to
another client or personal friend are all situations that could make you
feel that outsiders are intruding on your therapeutic space and that there
is not sufficient privacy for you to talk freely. If this should ever
happen to you, tell your therapist as clearly and immediately as possible.
Are there ever instances in which the therapist does reveal what a
client tells them?
There are some limitations to confidentiality in therapy. The legal system
acknowledges that there are times when the client, society or both can
benefit from release of information. The circumstances in which
confidentiality can be breached are defined by State and Federal case law.
The most common circumstances include:
Third-party reimbursement:
If your insurance coverage pays for any of the costs of your therapy, you
are giving your consent for information such as your diagnosis and
appointment dates to be shared with your insurance company.
Collection of debt:
If you fail to settle an account balance for your therapeutic treatment,
your name and the amount you owe can be made known to a collection agency.
Defense of malpractice or professional complaint:
If you were to allege that your therapist engaged in malpractice or some
other unethical act, the therapist has the right to disclose information
from your sessions in their defense of your charges.
Danger to self or others:
All states allow a therapist to reveal the name of a client who is deemed
a real and present danger to self (e.g., suicide) or others. Some states
even require that the therapist warn or attempt to protect the person
against whom the threats are being made.
Abuse of children, elderly, or mentally or physically handicapped:
In most states a therapist is required to report credible knowledge of
current or past abuse. This applies to situations in which the client is
the one who was abused as well as to situations in which the client is the
abuse.
For more information click on the
Health
Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)
Please call (703) 550-4848 for additional information or to schedule an appointment. For directions to my office location click HERE
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