How do I do that?
Beyond their mere words, how can I ensure in a bureaucratic and protocol manner that there is no chance for them to reveal anything secret and that I will have my upmost full protection if such event may ever occur?

[healinginprogress]

Nothing is ever guaranteed 100%.

If you're in the US, read up on HIPAA so you know what's a violation and what's not.
https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/fi...tal-health.pdf

Find a therapist you trust.
Ask how they ensure confidentiality.
Figure out what you're OK with. Are you OK with consulting about you? Do you not want someone who's under supervision so they don't have to talk about their cases?

I mean, that's like asking how to ensure that doctors, nurses, dentist, etc. are going to respect your privacy. Most just do because that's drilled into their head in school and work and that's part of the job.

And what protections are you looking for? That seems a weird word choice. Do you mean recourse? http://www.apa.org/helpcenter/confidentiality.aspx

[Amyjay]

The only absolute guarantee would be by not telling them anything. They are bound by ethical standards, but not all therapists are ethical.

[weaverbeaver]

I don’t think you can ever be 100% sure that therapists can be the gate keepers to our secrets. They are bound by ethics but they are also human.

You can't ensure anything about anyone else.

Originally Posted by weaverbeaver

I don’t think you can ever be 100% sure that therapists can be the gate keepers to our secrets. They are bound by ethics but they are also human.

No, it is because one is human that they will act accordingly
Otherwise, they are deranged monsters

[DP_2017]

No human is perfect, I am sorry to say. Everyone makes mistakes. Simple. It doesn't make you a monster

Most likely they wont though, they know they are supposed to keep things confidential. They are well aware of laws and ethics. They do have certain things they have to report though, like harm to yourself or others.... I believe. Or a intent to harm yourself or others it might be. You can always ask them about the specifics of what they are legally bound to tell someone if you bring it up.

I personally wouldn't care at all if my T put out a an ad in the paper about my life, it's not that interesting or secretive. I wouldn't care, but I know he would never do that and I know most people are not like me and it would bother them. Anyway, just gotta trust them the best you can, it's hard because again, humans are flawed.

[Fuzzybear]

Originally Posted by Amyjay

The only absolute guarantee would be by not telling them anything. They are bound by ethical standards, but not all therapists are ethical.

I agree with this

I have a friend whose father is a psychiatrist. She (the friend) told me "if you think they don't talk about their patients, you're deeply mistaken".

Personally, I've never had one break my confidentiality (at least to my knowledge) - but the possibility is always there.

As for being "only human" - sure they're human, but unless they have a legal reason to break confidentiality, they are, at the very least, in violation of their own ethical bodies and quite possible state or federal regulations. I work in a regulated industry (that includes HIPPA regulations) and being "only human" would not fly if I were to break confidentiality.

[mcl6136]

Originally Posted by ByStarlight

I have a friend whose father is a psychiatrist. She (the friend) told me "if you think they don't talk about their patients, you're deeply mistaken".

Personally, I've never had one break my confidentiality (at least to my knowledge) - but the possibility is always there.

As for being "only human" - sure they're human, but unless they have a legal reason to break confidentiality, they are, at the very least, in violation of their own ethical bodies and quite possible state or federal regulations. I work in a regulated industry (that includes HIPPA regulations) and being "only human" would not fly if I were to break confidentiality.

My father was in the medical field and he considered the confidentiality as a critical part of his oath and ..here is the point....essential for the process of healing and a good outcome.

I have had a lot of bad Ts and dumb therapy in my life but I have never felt that the T would spill my secrets.

Originally Posted by DP_2017

No human is perfect, I am sorry to say. Everyone makes mistakes. Simple. It doesn't make you a monster

Most likely they wont though, they know they are supposed to keep things confidential. They are well aware of laws and ethics. They do have certain things they have to report though, like harm to yourself or others.... I believe. Or a intent to harm yourself or others it might be. You can always ask them about the specifics of what they are legally bound to tell someone if you bring it up.

I personally wouldn't care at all if my T put out a an ad in the paper about my life, it's not that interesting or secretive. I wouldn't care, but I know he would never do that and I know most people are not like me and it would bother them. Anyway, just gotta trust them the best you can, it's hard because again, humans are flawed.

So essentially, they know what is wrong, but they do so because "reasons"
Guess where the problem is?

[Erebos]

You don't you have to hope they abide by their code of ethics.
, In my situation I doubt I have anything to tell him that , he hasn't heard before, or, is of remote interest of him to repeat. That's assuming he even remembers what I said by the end of the day.

Originally Posted by Erebos

You don't you have to hope they abide by their code of ethics.
, In my situation I doubt I have anything to tell him that , he hasn't heard before, or, is of remote interest of him to repeat. That's assuming he even remembers what I said by the end of the day.

Innit. . . . .

Originally Posted by Erebos

You don't you have to hope they abide by their code of ethics.
, In my situation I doubt I have anything to tell him that , he hasn't heard before, or, is of remote interest of him to repeat. That's assuming he even remembers what I said by the end of the day.

I am curious who you are talking to, and what you are referring to

Anyway, I will go on about the idea of mental health - it is KNOWN it is harmed by people. I still do not understand why people do not comprehend this
And not only that, but there are people who KNOW they harm for their own gain
Is this the future you, or anyone else, would want?
I once talked about the idea with someone on the suicide hotline. He sounded grieved and sad after the conversation, and I completely understand him, It's a very sad fact, yet a solid one which is so true as we're trying to push it to the ground because a part of us wants to believe that everything is OK and that there are no problems
But even the ground has a limited area, and eventually we could come to notice the problems are getting too big, and THAT'S what is needed tackling - stop the thorns from spreading, burn them if needed, no one deserves to live in an unsafe environment

[Erebos]

Apologies if I was unclear. I simply meant that it's not something I had really considered, whether my Pdoc kept my secrets, as I didn't think anything I said to my Pdoc would be worth repeating anyway.

Hope that is clearer. Once again apologies.

Originally Posted by Erebos

Apologies if I was unclear. I simply meant that it's not something I had really considered, whether my Pdoc kept my secrets, as I didn't think anything I said to my Pdoc would be worth repeating anyway.

Hope that is clearer. Once again apologies.

What did you not consider?
I still don't get the direction you're going with

[feileacan]

According to my experience my T is trustworthy and I am confident that nothing leaks out from him. If I wouldn't have that confidence in him, I wouldn't see him.

I'm not in US and in my country, there are no cases when he would be legally mandated to reveal anything to anyone (not that I would have done anything like this anyway). Also, no insurance involved, so no one can request any information from that side either. It's just him and me and whether I personally consider him trustworthy or not.

[Erebos]

I didn't consider whether Pdocs or T's keep our secrets...
That's the title of the thread, that's the statement to which I was referring.