Did my therapist violate my confidentiality?

To be truthful this is indirectly about my therapist.
Saw my psychiatrist today. During the session he mentioned some things I told the therapist. Now it wasn''t anything super personal or something that I was touchy about. I never mentioned being a danger to others or myself or anything even close to that. It was the fact that the therapist told the shrink what we talked about. For the record it was about my keen interest in my local basketball team. Do you think the therapist violated confidentiality? How do you think I should feel toward the Dr.&therapist? I'd like some feedback on this.

Probably no. If your T & psychiatrist are working together with you then no. If P is keeping in touch with T to evaluate the efficiency of drugs being prescribed, then no. If P is supervising your T, no again. However, you may want to check with T about what kind of info he feels he needs to share with P. Had a T tell me once that it was his job to work with me. He was under no obligation to report anything to P other than that continued treatment was deemed necessary...for insurance reasons. That included self harm, threats to self or others. T had full legal power & experience to deal with any situation. Another T told me he would consult with P if he wanted to 'bounce' ideas about treatment. In any case, you should know what info is leaving those 4 walls.

I feel like unless they are team treating you by sharing their info and working together with you then info should only be shared on an emergency or harm to self basis. I know its only basketball but the casual nature of it is what bothers me. Your therapist can talk about meds with the doc if you give permission or if they have fears for your safety but I do not believe the actual "contents" of your therapy need to be discussed unless you give permission. Having two specialists treat you for the same thing in different ways does not mean you give up your right to privacy and confidentiality. I know that I have shared about "abuse" with my doc but I would be upset if my therapist at the time mentioned anything specific and it was made known to me. I do not think there was any ill intent with your therapist it sounds casual but its one of those things that has murky intents.

Did you sign a release? Personally, that would give me a weird feeling, and I wouldn't want them chitchatting about me. On the other hand, it could show they go above and beyond, and really care. If you signed a release, then there's mothing wrong ethically, I refuse to sign those things.

I saw a psychiatrist for a year many years ago as a supplement to my therapy. When asked on my first appointment, I signed releases so they could speak to each other. I thought just the fact that they were talking "behind my back" evoked some feelings from childhood about overhearing my parents talk about me. But of course this was different. Sometimes the uncomfortableness is not a bad thing. If I were never uncomfortable I wouldn't make any changes at all.

I'd be surprised if you didn't sign a release, that they would be so sloppy to talk without having you do so-- though I suppose it could happen. They also do not get paid for talking to each other (I think, could be wrong) so any conversation would likely be limited. Perhaps your psych thinks s/he needs to relate to you more and hence your T mentioned some things that you are into. I would not get wound up about it if I were you but as with everything in therapy, talk about it.

Do they work in the same office? My T and PDOC do. I think I signed something saying they could talk to each other. I don't think they do though. My T always says stuff like have you told Dr about this? Plus they are both busy so I don't think they consult much. But if I were hospitalized I think they would talk about that. Ask your T. They should have the paperwork you signed. Hugs Kit

I feel really remiss in not mentioning in my original post the therapist is someone I saw for one time. He is not my regular therapist. It slipped my mind to mention that fact. I agree with you Sarahsweets. They are not a team since that the only instance where I saw that therapist. SalingerEsme, Anne2.0 , Slumberkitty . Release form was never offered for me to sign. Slumber kitty . Yes they work in the same mental health center. Can't ask for paperwork since there wasn't any. Thanks everybody for your valuable input.

I dont think so.