[alcira]

I was wondering how many people are aware of who else their therapist discusses their case with - supervisors, other colleagues, etc. Do you know to what extent the information you share with your T stays between you and your T?

[rainbow8]

My T had me sign something before I started therapy with her. It said that what I say is confidential except that she shares with some sort of supervisory group, to help her, and for my protection. I'm not sure if she is still in that group or not. It specifically says if she thinks I will hurt myself or a child she has the right to share my information. I think it says she will talk to me first if that happened. I have the paper if you want me to be more specific. Oh, and she has to talk to insurance to get my sessions approved. She told me what she told them.

[sunrise]

Originally Posted by alcira

I was wondering how many people are aware of who else their therapist discusses their case with - supervisors, other colleagues, etc. Do you know to what extent the information you share with your T stays between you and your T?

Yes, I am aware. My T is really above board about this issue. Breaches in confidentiality are sometimes the basis for legal actions by clients, so most therapists are very careful to obtain written informed consent on their confidentiality policy. alcira, what kind of confidentiality agreement do you have with your T? Are you worried that your T may not be upholding it?

[ECHOES]

My T works independently so this isn't something I think about.

I have seen a T who was in a group and T's that were in an agency. Both discussed cases in a weekly meeting, but I was under the impression the case was discussed with confidentiality in place. "I have a client who..." kind of thing.

[jexa]

Originally Posted by ECHOES

My T works independently so this isn't something I think about.

I have seen a T who was in a group and T's that were in an agency. Both discussed cases in a weekly meeting, but I was under the impression the case was discussed with confidentiality in place. "I have a client who..." kind of thing.

Yes, this. T's will talk about your case to colleagues, supervisors, etc., but they will not disclose your name or any information that could identify you. It would be illegal for them to disclose anything that could identify you, unless you give your express written permission. However, T's are free to discuss your case in vague terms at their own discretion. Like, at conferences, a T might ask a question of an expert -- "I have a client who XXX. What should I do?" Or a T might even go home and tell her husband, "Today wasn't bad but I'm stressed because one of my clients XXX." They won't go into it but none of this would be considered a breach of confidentiality unless they somehow disclosed something identifying about you (e.g. she works at XXX, she has a tattoo of XXX, her birthday is XXX, she has a scar like XXX, etc).

[Dr.Muffin]

you should definitely be aware of everyone your therapist is sharing your case with. it should be spelled out clearly and as often as you need. how can you feel comfortable being open if you dont know where your information is going?

i do informed consent and i explain in plain english and and give clients a copy and they know who i share information with. they sign releases so that i can talk to people, otherwise i cant even acknowledge ive met the clients. if i want to present their case at a conference or seek counsel or supervision, thats a whole separate conversation and informed consent form explained and signed.

[ECHOES]

Actually this T has told me when she mentioned something about me in a seminar/class. One time it was one of my dreams that she was able to share without looking at the notes she had (she only makes notes about dreams). I was pretty tickled that she used my dream

[SenatorPenguin8081]

Originally Posted by alcira

I was wondering how many people are aware of who else their therapist discusses their case with - supervisors, other colleagues, etc. Do you know to what extent the information you share with your T stays between you and your T?

God-- I hope he doesn't discuss it with anybody!
I'm going to make a point to ask my T the next time I see him if he does this. On the one hand, it means he cares about you enough to seek further guidance on complicated therapy issues in order to further help you. On the other hand, privacy is of concern to most if not all of us...

I remember reading somewhere that it is okay for them to seek guidance from supervisors/colleagues in a professional capacity as long as they do not give info as to what specific patient they were referring to. Don't know if that is entirely accurate though (from a US law perspective).

[jexa]

Originally Posted by SenatorPenguin8081

I remember reading somewhere that it is okay for them to seek guidance from supervisors/colleagues in a professional capacity as long as they do not give info as to what specific patient they were referring to. Don't know if that is entirely accurate though (from a US law perspective).

This actually is accurate from my understanding. It's certainly the policy in the office where I work.

[sugahorse1]

I think in our country a T has to by law refer to another T. That means, they need to have session themselves with another T - I guess as a kind of supervisory role. Here they will go through certain cases/patients and offer advice. But I agree with what everyone has already said - no details on the patient may be discussed to uphold the confidentiality.
My T has a file for me, which she keeps locked in a cabinet

[peaches100]

My t asked me a couple of times if it was OK for her to consult with another colleague about my case. Since then, i'm guessing that she has talked to alot of people about it. I say this because last week, she told me, "I've had to really learn alot to work with you." It doesn't bother me. I'm glad she was willing to put the work into learning more in order to help me, rather than just referring me out (I wouldn't switch.)

[Omers]

It's funny... My T is way more up tight about confidentiality than I am. I know that she teaches and I wouldn't care if she used me as an example but she would be apalled by the thought.
A few sessions ago I asked at the beginning of the session if I could sign releases so she can talk to all the other people I consider my "treatment team" (they are all in private practice so there is no natural treatment team in place). Winter is coming and my depression gets worse so I wanted to be ready.
I trust everyone I work with a lot or I wouldn't work with them. So... I wanted to sign a pretty open ended release for each of my providers allowing my T to discuss with them anything she needed to assist in her work with me. OMG you would think I had asked her to print a verbatim of our work together on the front page of the NY Times! She flipped out (not at me, just in a panic sort of mode... and I have NEVER seen her anything but cool and collect). We spent the majority of the session listing specifically what she could say (which I though was silly... she could hand them my file for all I care), when and how she could say it. THEN we had to work on how to word the list on the form! Ahhhh!
Thankfull all my other providers were happy with a list of names, the word "anything" in the what they can discuss section and my signature!

[sunrise]

Originally Posted by Omers

It's funny... My T is way more up tight about confidentiality than I am.

Who knows, she may have been sued by a client in the past so she takes extra care.