A concern for many people looking for a therapist is confidentiality. The law protects the relationship between a client and a psychotherapist. Information cannot be disclosed to anyone, including law enforcement, without written permission.
The exceptions to this are:
- There is suspected child abuse or dependent adult or elder abuse. Psychotherapists are required by law to report this to the appropriate authorities immediately.
- A client is threatening serious bodily harm to another person(s). In this case, psychotherapists must notify the police and inform the intended victim(s).
- If a client intends to harm himself or herself. In this case, psychotherapists must work with the client to ensure safety.
While there are times when some clients chose to contact their therapist through email, please be advised that this cannot be guaranteed to be a secured communication. Use caution when emailing anyone with confidential information.
“It’s not only children who grow. Parents do too. As much as we watch to see what our children do with their lives, they are watching us to see what we do with ours. I can’t tell my children to reach for the sun. All I can do is reach for it, myself.”
Joyce Maynard
“In my early professionals years I was asking the question: How can I treat, or cure, or change this person? Now I would phrase the question in this way: How can I provide a relationship which this person may use for his own personal growth?” –Carl Rogers,
From On Becoming a Person, 1961
