Can therapists talk about their clients? In almost every instance,
therapy is absolutely confidential
. You therapist is required to maintain confidentiality about everything said in sessions between the two of you, just like a doctor is required to keep your records private.
Can therapists tell their therapists about patients?
Past Crimes. In most cases, discussing a past crime is protected by confidentiality rules. This means that you should be able to discuss a crime you committed with your therapist, and
your therapist is sworn to secrecy
. However, you may still not want to do this.
Can you talk about anything with a therapist?
It's easy to feel like you need to talk about “deep” or “serious” issues in therapy But remember, there's no “correct” topic to discuss in therapy.
You can talk about whatever you want
. True, some people come to therapy to address something specific, like anxiety or depression.
Do therapists talk about their personal lives?
Manhattan therapist Panthea Saidipour, LCSW, pointed out that all therapists are different. How much a therapist reveals about themselves really depends on the theories that guide their work and their relationship with each client, she said. Saidipour says
very little about her personal life.
Can therapists talk about themselves?
Can Therapists Ever Self-Disclose?
Yes
. Therapist self-disclosure can be a powerful therapeutic tool, but self-disclosure is most definitely an advanced therapeutic skill. Good training programs teach therapists about the timing and the technique for self-disclosure.
What are the confidentiality laws for therapists?
You have the right not to disclose any confidential communications between you and your psychotherapist in a California criminal jury trial
; and. You have the right to prevent your therapist from disclosing any such confidential communications.
What are some examples of inappropriate self-disclosure?
According to Zur (2010), one of the most cited examples of inappropriate self-disclosures are
when practitioners discuss their own personal problems and hardships with their clients with no clinical rationale or purpose
.
What should you never tell your therapist?
- “I feel like I'm talking too much.” …
- “I'm the worst. …
- “I'm sorry for my emotions.” …
- “I always just talk about myself.” …
- “I can't believe I told you that!” …
- “Therapy won't work for me.”
What a therapist should not do?
- Skip building trust or rapport. …
- Lack empathy. …
- Act unprofessionally. …
- Be judgmental or critical. …
- Do anything other than practice therapy. …
- Lack confidence. …
- Talk too much or not at all. …
- Give unsolicited advice.
Do therapists know when you're lying?
Your therapist can't read your mind, so
they may not always know for certain when you lie
. That said, plenty of cues in your speech and body language can alert your therapist to dishonesty. They might notice things like unnecessary or embellished details, or changes in your story from session to session.
Do therapists fantasize about patients?
The results of this survey showed that
many therapists have experienced periodic sexual feelings, thoughts, or fantasies about people they were treating
: Approximately 7 in 10 therapists (more men than women) found a patient sexually attractive; nearly a quarter had fantasies about being in a romantic relationship with …
Do therapists Google their patients?
Do therapists Google their patients? Short answer: yes. A new study published on January 15 in the Journal of Clinical Psychology finds that
86% of the therapists interviewed by the study's authors say they sometimes do look up their patients on the Internet.
Do therapists cry about their clients?
Research asking patients what they think about their therapists' tears is scant. In a 2015 study in Psychotherapy, researchers Ashley Tritt, MD, Jonathan Kelly, and Glenn Waller, PhD, surveyed 188 patients with eating disorders and found that
about 57 percent had experienced their therapists crying
.
Should a therapist self disclose?
Self-disclosure can be a means of building rapport with clients, which is essential to the counseling relationship.
Counselors often choose to disclose about themselves and their lives to aid in the development of trust that is necessary for counseling to be effective.
Should a therapist give their opinion?
Clients can ask their therapist to offer more opinions and guidance, but some of them are too nervous to do so or feel they shouldn't need to directly communicate what they want from therapy
. There are also therapists who will not give any form of advice, even if clients ask.
Do therapists worry about their clients?
Although there's nothing wrong with showing concern or compassion,
therapists don't operationalize these aspects to help their clients
. In effect, caring can be detrimental to the client-therapist relationship. For example, it may cause attachment, overdependence, or even the development of romantic feelings.
What are the 3 exceptions to confidentiality?
Most of the mandatory exceptions to confidentiality are well known and understood. They include
reporting child, elder and dependent adult abuse
, and the so-called “duty to protect.” However, there are other, lesserknown exceptions also required by law.
When can your therapist break confidentiality?
There are a few situations that may require a therapist to break confidentiality:
If the client may be an immediate danger to themself or another
. If the client is endangering another who cannot protect themself, as in the case of a child, a person with a disability, or elder abuse.
When might a therapist be required to violate confidentiality?
Licensed mental health professionals can break confidentiality in some circumstances. One of the most common scenarios is
when a client is a threat to himself/herself or others
, in which case a therapist must notify the person in danger or notify someone who can keep the client safe.
Can therapists disclose information about themselves?
Despite concerns raised, research suggests “in reality that
therapists generally do disclose
” personal information about themselves and their beliefs, and that it happens more often than many would assume (Danzer, 2019, p. 3).
Sharing something you think is too sensitive or personal can be uncomfortable. But know you're not alone in thinking you've disclosed too much in therapy. When this happens,
it can help to explore why you think you've overshared and talk it over with your therapist.
Is it OK to ask your therapist personal questions?
The short answer to the question is: Yes.
If you have a question, you should ask
. Your questions are valid and likely relevant to the therapeutic process.
Do therapists judge you?
Your therapist judges you on multiple occasions
.
It doesn't matter how many mistakes you've made or how many bad experiences you've had. A therapist should never judge you. It's your right to have a therapist who treats you with warmth and empathy.
Can I tell my therapist about intrusive thoughts?
Your Therapist Needs to Know What's Going On to Help You
You may feel that something bad might happen if you tell your therapist your scariest thoughts, however, it is important to realize that having intrusive thoughts does not mean you are a bad person. Everyone has intrusive thoughts.
How honest can you be with a therapist?
The most critical component of trust is honesty, so consider being upfront about the fact that
you do not trust a therapist 100%
with certain information to be good practice at honesty. From there, you and your therapist can talk about why you aren't yet trusting, and what can be done to build that trust!
What are the signs of a good therapist?
- They actually listen to you. …
- You feel validated. …
- They want what's best for you. …
- They're a strong communicator. …
- They check in with you. …
- They take the time to educate themselves. …
- You view them as an ally. …
- They earn your trust.
Do therapists think about me between sessions?
Your therapist's relationship with you exists between sessions, even if you don't communicate with each other
. She thinks of your conversations, as well, continuing to reflect on key moments as the week unfolds. She may even reconsider an opinion she had or an intervention she made during a session.
Why do therapists stay silent?
For the specific event, therapists used silence primarily
to facilitate reflection, encourage responsibility, facilitate expression of feelings, not interrupt session flow, and convey empathy
. During silence, therapists observed the client, thought about the therapy, and conveyed interest.
Can you curse in therapy?
Can I show my therapist pictures?
It's against the rules for a therapist to talk about any client (under most circumstances), so
they are ethically bound to not divulge anything about you to people in the photos
.
Why do therapists mirror you?
Your counselor mirrors you
so that you feel comfortable and understood
(and, for many therapists, matching your tone and speed helps them understand better). Mirroring body language in counseling is one of the first skills your therapist probably learned.
Do therapists dream about clients?
Can I ask my therapist if they like me?
Can I ask My Therapist What He/She Thinks of Me?
Yes, you can, and yes you should
. This is a reasonable question to ask a therapist, and any good therapist will be happy to answer.
How often do therapists fall in love with their patients?
Pope mailed a questionnaire to a random sampling of the association membership. Of the 585 psychologists who responded,
87%
(95% of the men and 76% of the women) reported having been sexually attracted to their clients, at least on occasion.
Do therapists gossip about clients?
Psychologists may disclose confidential information with the client's permission or as mandated by law
. When talking with colleagues, psychologists should not disclose confidential information that reasonably could lead to the identification of a client, unless they have obtained the prior consent of the person.
What can you not tell a therapist?
- “I feel like I'm talking too much.” …
- “I'm the worst. …
- “I'm sorry for my emotions.” …
- “I always just talk about myself.” …
- “I can't believe I told you that!” …
- “Therapy won't work for me.”
