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#1
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Had a thought today. If a therapist or any other mental health worker is in therapy themselves how would they handle it if a client triggers some of their issues? Do they bring it up to their therapist to process? How do they avoid HIPAA violations if they do?
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#2
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Pretty much the same way they get supervision or consultation. And the discussion would mostly be about their issues, not the client's.
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Life is hard. Then you die. Then they throw dirt in your face. -David Gerrold |
![]() HD7970GHZ
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#3
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My T has mentioned he doesn't identify specific clients when he talks about them (doesn't use real names or details). I don't know whether he talks to his therapist about clients but to his supervisor I assume he must.
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#4
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They say that to be a good therapist you have to have a good therapist.
It is very common for Ts to either be in therapy themselves or consult with other Ts on their cases. They never divulge identifying information that could jeopardize their clients identity. |
#5
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Quote:
Hi Nottrustin, This is a great question! I am no therapist, but from what I understand (which has already been mentioned), is that therapists have consultations in order to navigate potential pitfalls and counter-transference in order to prevent interference with success of therapy. I do believe that consultations are a normal part of therapy and do not require permission from clients, however, in some cases they may ask for permission. My current therapist asked for permission and I said yes. There are therapists who specialize in counselling therapists. I have encountered one in the city that I live in and they refused to treat me because they only treat therapists. Thanks, HD7970ghz
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"stand for those who are forgotten - sacrifice for those who forget" "roller coasters not only go up and down - they also go in circles" "the point of therapy - is to get out of therapy" "don't put all your eggs - in one basket" "promote pleasure - prevent pain" "with change - comes loss" |
#6
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So how would it work of the client is dealing with something that was high profile and fairly unique??
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#7
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Like what? People hurt other people all day, every day. Not sure there's really a truly unique way to traumatize someone else. As for high profile, I've never heard any details in any high profile story that are particularly unique. For example, the vast majority of abductions and rapes that happen are not in the media. It would be foolish for a therapist's therapist to assume that her client was speaking of one of the few that were if she referred to an abduction and rape.
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Life is hard. Then you die. Then they throw dirt in your face. -David Gerrold |
#8
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Do you mean, how would a therapist consult about a client who is a high profile (or liability client) and still maintain confidentiality for that client?
This is one of my gripes with the healthcare system and I honestly do not have a definitive answer. One therapist told me they aren't supposed to share names and identity of their clients, that they only present the client as, "client A or B." Of course, how could this be...? I don't believe in confidentiality. I believe humans are humans and gossip happens wherever there are humans. Therapists are no exception. Assuming that ethics and morals are always followed is absolutely ridiculous, however disturbing that may seem it is unfortunately a reality. I do know that organizations communicate with one another when it comes to liability clients (despite the fact that this is highly illegal and unethical). This is from years of research and personal experience. When someone who has been abused by therapists reaches out to other therapists for help in a different organization - a therapist has every right to share information with any organization if they deem the client a danger to themselves or others. Scary, right? Interestingly enough, after I was abused in the public healthcare system and threatened to stay silent, I went to private therapy. I worked with my private therapist, told her all the names of the people involved and what had happened. She ended up hiring the person who started all of the abuse after 4 months of therapy. As you can imagine, this hurt, a lot. And then she said, "the only way I will continue working with you is if you allow me to include your former therapist in consultations." Of course, I reacted. Absolutely NOT! But she said, "we don't share specifics about client identity." She didn't understand - they threatened me (which is why I went to private therapy) and the fact that she hired the person I told her about was equally if not more disturbing. In the end she protected her friends and colleagues and destroyed my credibility even more. This is Institutional Betrayal. The easy way to bypass confidentiality laws is to simply communicate off the record. It is a small industry. Everyone knows one another. And if they want to bypass confidentiality laws legally - they just hire an abuser into the same clinic... The industry is extremely disturbing behind closed doors. I wouldn't blindly trust anyone in this system until they have PROVEN to you that they are trustworthy. There is absolutely NOTHING wrong with that. Thanks, HD7970ghz
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"stand for those who are forgotten - sacrifice for those who forget" "roller coasters not only go up and down - they also go in circles" "the point of therapy - is to get out of therapy" "don't put all your eggs - in one basket" "promote pleasure - prevent pain" "with change - comes loss" |
#9
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Like Dr. Melfi who treated Tony Soprano, mob boss, who disclosed his name to her therapist? Yeah, fictional story but maybe more realistic portrayal of one. As a practical matter, I don't think she could have talked about her issues with him without revealing who he was, or maybe her therapist guessed. As another practical matter, revealing identifying information about your client to your therapist is also privileged (that therapist has to keep confidentiality, so who's going to ever know?). I think as long as it's in the service of the therapist seeking therapy and assisting the person in supervision, it's okay. Otherwise, I don't see as different from therapists like mine, who sometimes say "I once worked with someone who approached [this issue] in this particular way" without any revealing information. Its purpose in my therapy doesn't break confidentiality.
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#10
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Quote:
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#11
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A therapist working out an issue with her therapist about a client is no different from you working out an issue with your husband with her. HIPAA prevents your therapist from talking to or about your husband and HIPAA prevents her therapist from talking to or about you. It's the same law.
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![]() LonesomeTonight
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#12
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I have no problem with this. There must be some pretty horrible stuff a mental health professional hears and must deal with the fall-out for. How is this any different than a first responder having PTSD in the aftermath of see something awfully distressing and traumatic?
I would have no problem with my professional seeing a professional of their own. It actually humanizes them. |
![]() ArtleyWilkins
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#13
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I want the therapist to have had therapy just because I want them to endure what they inflict. I have little to no faith (based on interactions with them and what I have seen in legal proceedings) that hipaa or other ideals prevent therapists from doing what they want when they talk to other therapists for any reason.
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Please NO @ Selfishness is not living as one wishes to live, it is asking others to live as one wishes to live. Oscar Wilde Well Behaved Women Seldom Make History - Laurel Thatcher Ulrich Pain is inevitable. Suffering is optional. |
![]() HD7970GHZ
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#14
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I think they could talk to their own therapist in a way that doesn't betray the names of anyone involved. PM me if you want, NT.
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In a world where you can be anything, be kind. ; |
#15
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I’ve talked to my therapist about clients, just not using their names or any identifying info.
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