Your therapist will do whatever is legally and ethically appropriate and allowable, to the best of his/her skills and abilities, to keep your personal information private. What you say in therapy sessions is covered by legal confidentiality, so long as it falls within the legal limitations. Those limitations are as follows:
● If your therapist has a concern that you are in any way in danger of hurting yourself or others, we are required by law to contact the appropriate authorities.
● If your therapist has a concern that a child or an elder is being abused by anyone (not necessarily yourself) as a result of our conversations in session, we are required to report it to the appropriate authorities.
● If we are subpoenaed by a court of law to present information regarding your care, or to testify regarding your care, we may be required to do so depending on the situation. In all situations where confidentiality must be broken, your therapist is committed to informing you as much as is ethically required and appropriate. Your therapist, in any of these situations will consult with his/her supervisor, his/her director, and other professionals prior to taking any action. And your therapist will limit any such release to only what is required by law and code of ethics.
In all other circumstances, such as coordinating care with another care provider, your therapist requires that you sign a release of information authorization in order to discuss your treatment.