Confidentiality

Confidentiality Concerns

Almost all individuals seeking psychotherapy have big concerns and questions about confidentiality. So, here are the ones I’ve been asked most often through the years:

* With whom will I be sharing your personal experiences and other information?

* What if you want me to talk with someone else about you?

* How will I assure that what you tell me in session stays in session?

* Can you tell or talk to others about what we discuss in your sessions?

* Are there limitations to confidentiality?

Of course, with psycHikes, where some sessions are held outdoors on a hiking or biking trail, in a park, or at a campground or some other public place, there is yet another pressing concern:

* What if either of us runs into someone we know while we’re having your session out on the trail or at a campground or park or some other public place?

Here are some answers to all the questions about confidentiality listed above:

With whom will I be sharing your personal experiences and other information?

No one. I will share nothing you tell me in session with anyone without your written consent. Even with your written consent, what I would share would be only the minimum needed for me to gain access to the information I would need to help you achieve your therapy goals. I will not go into the intimate details of your personal life with anyone.

What if you want me to talk with someone else about you?

By law, if you want me to share information about your treatment with someone, I will do so only with your written permission. The release of information form I would have you sign for this purpose would state the name of each individual with whom I could communicate. In addition, the release form would state specifically the limits of what you allow me to discuss or share along with the manner it could be communicated (i.e. verbal or written form).

How will I assure that what you tell me in session stays in session?

By law, nothing you tell me in session can be communicated to anyone without your written consent, and I abide by the law. Any identifying information on documents (i.e., intake form, case notes, treatment plans, etc.) stored through electronic media will be encoded and password protected. All paper documents will be kept in a locked file inside a locked room.

Can you tell or talk to others about what we discuss in your sessions?

That will be up to you. However, if you ask or inform me of your desire to do so, I will inquire about your motivations for wanting to talk with others outside our therapeutic alliance and will help you explore the risks of such a move.

Are there limitations to confidentiality?

Yes. In any of the following circumstances, I could legally breach confidentiality:

Two circumstances where confidentiality does not hold involve suicidal and homicidal intent. Specifically, if I become convinced that you intend to kill yourself or anyone else, I will intervene to the best of my abilities to keep either incident from occurring. During such interventions, it is lawful for me to communicate with others without anyone’s permission for the purpose of gaining access to the information necessary for me to be able to to make the decisions I would have to make. Of course, at the end of that intervention process, confidentiality would be back in effect.  In addition, I am a mandated reporter. That means I am required by law to report child abuse and neglect, elder abuse and neglect, and abuse and neglect of those individuals who are reliant on someone such as a guardian or caregiver for their well-being.

What if either of us runs into someone we know while we’re having your session out on the trail or at a campground or park or some other public place?

To start, there will be nothing on my vehicle, clothing, or gear that will identify me or make reference to psycHikes. In all the years I have been hiking, backpacking, and mountain biking, I have rarely run into anyone I know. Certainly, if there is concern on your behalf about running into someone you know, I know places we can meet where we will be very unlikely to run into anyone.

If by chance we do run into someone either of us knows, there will be nothing said by me of us doing anything more than walking or hiking or conversing.