[Bill Green]

I found out that my therapist broke my confidentiality with her boyfriend. I don't know how much she told him about me, but we travel in similar circles and he definitely knows that I was seeing her.

I feel absolutely betrayed and angry. She had no grounds whatsoever to break my confidentiality. Is this not illegal? Immoral?

[ClinicallyClueless]

From what you've written this may be illegal and a complaint may be filed to the licensing board depending on her license. However, the most important thing is to talk to her about it as you will get no where in therapy unless this is out in the open.

My therapist broke confidentiality once with my husband, but after he explained I understood and agreed with his decision.

The only reasons a mental health professional can break confidentiality is if you are a danger to yourself or others or unable to care for yourself.

[madisgram]

i agree with clinicallyclueness, you have every right to report this. this is a violation of every professional ethic there is.
you have every right to feel as you do. i'd RUN from that therapist. find a responsible one in your community, licensed and board certified, and it's important you discuss this betrayal with your new T cause you will need help with the issues this unfortunate situation has raised.
i'm sorry you have had to go through this.

[DePressMe]

Bill, Your anger is very appropriate and justified in your situation. I'd be mad too. There are no excuses for your therapist breaking your confidentiality.

I am really sorry you were betrayed by somebody who you should have been able to trust. Can you get a new therapist? Heck you might need to process this experience with another therapist.

Good luck.

[DoggyBonz]

Bill,
I agree with ClinicallyCares. If there is a way you can talk to your therapist and find out why she did it then you have more an opportunity to make the best choices. Feeling betrayed, angry, etc...is completely normal.

Once you have access the situation and talk to her you can decide what to do next including: a formal complaint to the licensing board, many sites ask you to rate your experience with a doctor/therapist and you can certainly let other people know. You can even formal a complaint with your insurance company and let them know of her break in ethics. Often times they file these and if they get other complaints will take action on your behalf.

Please keep us informed and let us know how it turns out.

[StrawberryFieldsss]

I would say be absolutely certain before you accuse/confront, but as far as I know it is both immoral and completely unethical.

I would confirm it and if you are able to, terminate. If she denies it and you don't believe her, terminate. You will probably never trust her again and there would be no need to waste any more time with her.

Ugh I would be so pissed.

[imapatient]

Originally Posted by Bill Green

I found out that my therapist broke my confidentiality with her boyfriend. I don't know how much she told him about me, but we travel in similar circles and he definitely knows that I was seeing her.

I feel absolutely betrayed and angry. She had no grounds whatsoever to break my confidentiality. Is this not illegal? Immoral?

I'd ask her about in order to give you an explanation. I don't you should pay for that; you shouldn't have to pay for her to explain her behavior. That's a matter of your professional relationship, but it's not therapy.

If somehow you could be o.k. with what went on--some good reasons she did that--maybe you could continue.

Do you know she actually told him something? Maybe he saw something he shouldn't have seen.

If it were me, I'd try to get an explanation from her, but then terminate.

Depending on what kind of T she is (and where) determines the licensing and accreditation issues. But for any "therapist" type profession that I know of, breaking confidentiality is a violation of professional ethics and likely--depending on where--a violation of licensing standards.

If she thinks you're going to file a complaint, she likely won't want to meet with you to talk about it because that could be giving you information to use against her. Don't mention any complaints, in my opinion, until you're ready to do it, or are already terminated with her.

What she did is every patient's nightmare, I'd be very ticked off.