I've worked with a few therapists now in my state and in order for the therapist to talk to anyone about you, you must sign a release. It is not just a courtesy. So it must vary by state. My therapist and my daughter's therapist had to have signed release forms (one for each therapist) so they could confer, and my daughter also has to sign one if she wants to allow her therapist to talk to me. My therapist could not talk to my lawyer until I signed a release form (at least before he was my coach). They just can't talk to anyone without getting that form signed, but once it is signed, it is good indefinitely, unless you specifically revoke it. Now that my therapist is also my coach, we have a different contract that specifies there is "no confidentiality" within the scope of other professionals on our "team." But he still needs the standard release to talk to others outside of the team. As soon as he is done being my coach, we are going to rip up the contract and get back our client-therapist confidentiality.

Anyway, I think the way it looks is that the regulations are different in different states and countries. This confidentiality question is probably something that is important to go over and understand at your very first session. And if you are ever uncomfortable with the agreement, be sure to raise it in therapy and perhaps you and your T can agree to additional safeguards.