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  #1  
Old Dec 10, 2006, 03:25 PM
Brookester Brookester is offline
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I have been seeing a social worker who specializes in molestation. From time to time she will call me at home to see how I am doing and leave a message on the machine which my husband can access. Well, in my work with her, I confided in her that I believed my husband was having an affair. The next thing I know is that she is leaving a message on our phone answering machine talking about the affair which I believe my husband has had. I am floored about this. Luckily I got the message before my husband, otherwise it would have nearly ruined our relationship. I am thinking of having an attorney friend of mine write her a letter telling her to never contact me again in writing or by phone. Talk about betrayal of confidentialty!

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  #2  
Old Dec 10, 2006, 03:35 PM
withit withit is offline
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How unfortunate that we come to a therapist with a history of trust betrayed and instead of finding healing via a corrective emotional experience with the therapist, we are once again betrayed.... what a shame.....
I might consider calling therapist a.s.a.p. and ask her why she left that message, and does she recall being asked not to leave confidential messages? And advising her not to leave any messages in the future. The most she may do is leave a message for you to call her back. How's that?
  #3  
Old Dec 10, 2006, 03:50 PM
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U.S. Federal HIPAA laws require all healthcare providers to protect personal health information (PHI). This includes personal information such as name, address, social security number, as well as ALL medical and mental health information.

This includes telephone messages and she is violating the law, not to mention ethics.

This law covers written/printed material, emails (cannot email PHI without encryption/password protection), and voice mail/telephone messages (cannot speak to a spouse without permission, etc). All PHI is to be protected.

Regardless of the law, it is important that you tell her right away about her leaving messages that can't be kept confidential, and tell her to stop because you don't like it.

You don't need an attorney to tell her what you want. If it's okay that she calls, then set the boundaries: only call certain times, only discuss certain issues, only speak to you, etc.

It's very nice that she is concerned but I wonder who is being served by her calls: you or her.

ECHOES
  #4  
Old Dec 10, 2006, 04:26 PM
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improper behavior by social worker therapist improper behavior by social worker therapist improper behavior by social worker therapist
  #5  
Old Dec 10, 2006, 04:54 PM
Anonymous29319
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Therapists ask for phone numbers information. this is for in case they have to cancel an appointment or if something comes up that they are concerned about they can get ahold of the client. it is also for emergencys.

Most if not all therapists unless you specifically state that you do NOT want them to call you, will call to discuss issues over the phone, and will leave messages about things that they are concerned about. for example a clients safety and how they are doing after a hard or stressful session and or situation.

if you and your therapist have not discussed recieving phone calls she is free to do so.

Therapists are not mind readers they cannot snap their fingers and just know which clients are ok with getting phone calls and which ones are not. It is up to the clients to let the therapist know what they the client wants and what is ok.

My suggestion -

tell the therapist you no longer want her to call you to leave ANY issue related messages.

be clear that you are Letting her know that she can call and say she would like you to call her back and then you will do so.

Put it in writing and have that therapist sign the paper if it will help you to explain to her what you expect from her, what you want her to do and what you don't want her to do.

  #6  
Old Dec 10, 2006, 07:16 PM
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(JD) (JD) is offline
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I think this is a perfect example of social worker vs psychologist. Sometimes the social workers just aren't held to, or given the proper training! improper behavior by social worker therapist

Yes this was improper behavior. Unless you signed an agreement when she may call you, and failed to note that she should not leave indepth messages, she is way over the line on this one, imo.

Tell her to her face. And hand it to her in writing (keep a copy.) This breach needs to be addressed in session, imo. It may be indicative of other issues that might arise with her, it might not.

TC!
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  #7  
Old Dec 11, 2006, 09:20 AM
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Perna Perna is offline
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You have to talk to her first rather than an attorney. The way you worded it, I thought you were through with her and that's why you were going to talk to the attorney! Dragging an attorney into your relationship is almost worse than her mentioning information about the affair. I don't know the entire situation, exactly what she said/words she used and that she knew your husband could assess the phone, etc. so can't judge the situation well. I can only see two ways I would go, if you are going to continue seeing her, you have to talk to her and solve any problems together, not have someone outside the relationship talk to her. If you are too upset to continue working with her, you have to tell her that and why and then get another therapist.
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  #8  
Old Dec 11, 2006, 09:44 AM
Suzy5654
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I thought you had to sign a consent before a therapist or doc can call at all--even to confirm appts. as some clients may be secretly seeing a pdoc or therapist & not want spouses or family members to know. I had to sign such a form that they could call to confirm appts. & leave messages about upsoming appts. without giving any info. as to what the purpose of the appt. is. I think this is due to HIPPA. I like that they are taking such care to protect my privacy & don't call or anything without my written permission. My husband knows I'm in therapy & getting treatment by a pdoc, but I would hate to have any of my confidential comments left on a message! That's just wrong.--Suzy
  #9  
Old Dec 12, 2006, 12:50 PM
Balzac Balzac is offline
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That strikes me as a very odd and unacceptable thing for a therapist to do-- no matter what their training.

1. Calling to reschedule an appointment,
2. calling to discuss issues over the phone in person, and
3. calling and leaving voicemail with confidential information (not to mention in a household with other members, who may hear the voicemail)

are three entirely distinct types of calls.

The third type of call is a mistake, even if you're not a therapist-- much less if you are.

I do think you should discuss this decision that she made and question her about how she could have thought it was appropriate. Because honestly, it's a mistake that would make me question someone's judgment.

Sorry to have to say that.

Vautrin
  #10  
Old Dec 12, 2006, 07:05 PM
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biiv biiv is offline
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Hi Brookester,
im sorry you were so betrayed by a person you trusted. that was a big betrayal and stepped way over the line imo. where i live the most therapists of any sort will do is leave a message with their name/number as appropriate and request that i call them back. ive never had anyone leave more than that on my voicemail even though it is my cell phone which only i access.
on the other hand there may be a valid reason for what she did (not that i can think of one!) so i would take it up with her personally to find out if there was a reason she made such a terrible mistake before you get a lawyer involved. maybe you can work it out between you so that she understands what a big impact it had and how damaging it could have been to your relationship or maybe it is too big a betrayal and you cant build back up a relationship of trust with her after it but at least hear her out first.
i wish you luck with this and again am sorry this happened.
take care
biiv
  #11  
Old Dec 13, 2006, 06:06 PM
white_iris
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I have never known a therapist to leave confidential information on an answering machine. This is a betrayal of trust esp. if there are other ppl in the household. My T's office calls me for change of appts and such. ther is nothing said about anything except "This is G---please give me a call back". and the # Now that I have signed a form that says the sect'y can say it is my T's office, the sect'y can say it's about an appt. or such.
  #12  
Old Dec 19, 2006, 10:00 PM
freewill
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I personally would not have this social worker as my T, no matter what explaination she gave for leaving that message. No matter what she has shown very, very poor judgement.

I feel very strongly about this.

When I first started therapy, I didn't tell my husband because he was incredibly violent. This was 20 so years ago and yet my T and his office still respected my request for no phone calls and no billings to my home. If my T back then had called and left any message, it could have caused my death literally. I was in therapy for a year before I told him and then only to also tell him I wanted a divorce.

Sincerely,
Lu
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